HELP US BUILD BACK BETTER

In the early morning hours of Sunday, August 3, the playground equipment at Bomberger Park, located on E 5th St. just east of Keowee St,was burned down. The arson follows similar local incidents in Kettering (March 2025), Cincinnati, (October 2024), and Huber Heights (November 2021). To add insult to injury, this occurred just as the neighborhood was getting ready to welcome thousands of visitors from across the region for the Dayton Germanfest Picnic (August 8-10) and Dayton Porchfest (August 16).

This park is unique as it is the result of three years of grassroots community fundraising efforts from the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses. Individuals and organizations poured their hearts into the project, taking care to include adaptive elements so the playground could be enjoyed by as many people as possible. Since its ribbon cutting in August 2023, attendance at the playground has been high in all weather and seasons. Dayton is a city with great needs and great adversities - this is a crushing disappointment for the children and families who have enjoyed a safe space to play and the neighbors who fundraised for new equipment, collaborated with the City of Dayton to choose the playground equipment pieces, and cared fiercely for the entire park after the installation.

We know that all kids deserve a beautiful playground like the one we had until today - not just ones from wealthy families - and we will rebuild it for them. Because the playground was funded in part by private donations and grants, we are anticipating that this will be necessary once again to replace our beloved equipment. St Anne's Hill, Huffman Historic District, and the greater downtown Dayton area are nothing if not scrappy - we intend to prove that we are undaunted by cruel pranks or misguided actions. We believe that most people are good, and most people want the city to succeed. We are calling on you to contribute to our GiveLively campaign for replacement equipment.

[NOTE: GiveLively focuses on fundraising for nonprofit organizations and does not take a portion of donations/ The campaign is led by the St Anne's Hill Historic Society which is a 501(c)3 charitable organization established to promote the preservation of historic homes in the neighborhood surrounding Bomberger Park and the fostering of a vibrant residential community there.]