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From Tragedy to Transformation

A Community Transformed by the Power of Art

What began as a response to tragedy has become one of the most powerful examples of community transformation in our city. Thirteen years ago, after two devastating incidents of gun violence in Kennedy Heights Park, residents refused to let fear define their neighborhood. They came together with a shared belief that creativity could reclaim what had been lost. Through music, art, and collective imagination, they would take back their park.

What started as a grassroots effort to restore safety has grown into a beloved summer tradition called Play in the Park. Every Wednesday evening, the park fills with free music, theater, dance, storytelling, and community artmaking that brings neighbors of all ages together. “We focus on creating positive interactions, building relationships of trust, and meeting new friends,” says organizer Susan Wade Murphy.

The transformation has been profound. “The park has changed from a place residents once feared to a vibrant, welcoming hub of community life,” reflects Executive Director Ellen Muse. “Play in the Park was the spark that brought people together.”

Since the program began, there has not been another act of violence in the park. Today, children run freely across the field, families gather for evenings under the trees, and neighbors greet one another with warmth and recognition. The space is alive again — a daily reminder that art changes everything. It heals. It restores. It unites.

A Place Where Everyone Belongs

From the beginning, Play in the Park was designed to welcome everyone. Its events are completely free to attend and for all ages, eliminating financial barriers and ensuring every neighbor has access to joyful, creative experiences. Artists, musicians, performers, and presenters are intentionally curated to reflect the diversity and vibrancy of Kennedy Heights, Pleasant Ridge, and the surrounding area.

That sense of belonging is felt deeply by residents. Community member Sharifah Tafari describes it this way:

“Play in the Park is a great benefit to our neighborhood. Families enjoy the sense of beloved community that is fostered every Wednesday. And we are very proud to host it right here in the Heights.”

Survey results affirm what neighbors already know:

• 98 percent say Play in the Park enlivens the park with arts and culture
• 94 percent say it increases access to creative experiences
• 94 percent say it creates a welcoming, inclusive environment

Year after year, families return. Some first came as children, later as teens, and now as adults sharing the tradition with their own little ones.

When Creativity Becomes Community

The impact of Play in the Park is perhaps best illustrated through the story of Sean, who first attended as a toddler. As the summers passed, he explored art activities, played games, danced to the music, and grew up under the shade of the same trees that had once stood silent and empty.

Years later, Sean returned to Play in the Park on stage as a performer with My Nose Turns Red Youth Circus. Inspired by a performance he saw at Play in the Park, he joined the troupe, discovered a passion for circus arts, built confidence, and found a new creative path that continues to shape him.

This is the kind of transformation Play in the Park makes possible.

It is a reminder that when a community chooses connection over fear, creativity over silence, and joy over despair, extraordinary things can happen.

A Partnership Rooted in Equity, Creativity, and Care

Kennedy Heights Arts Center has been a founding and sustaining partner of Play in the Park from the beginning. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when gathering in the park was not possible, the Arts Center reimagined the program entirely creating “Play in the Streets,” a mobile arts experience that brought music and creativity directly to neighborhood blocks.

“KHAC has always brought artistic expertise, accessibility, and a commitment to equity to this work,” Susan says. “Their leadership and partnership have helped Play in the Park grow and remain true to its purpose.”

Together with residents, neighborhood partners, and artists, KHAC has ensured that this program remains a beacon of creativity and connection for more than a decade.

Help Keep This Community Tradition Alive

Play in the Park exists because our community believes in the power of art to bring people together. And it continues because of people like you.

As Kennedy Heights Arts Center faces significant public funding losses in 2025, your support is especially critical. Your gift helps ensure that programs like Play in the Park remain free, accessible, and open to all, strengthening our community one Wednesday night at a time.

Help us keep this tradition thriving and keep proving that art changes everything.

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