If you've ever been to Dogwood Park in Wesley Chapel, you know it's fantastic. Set back off Lester Davis road, Dogwood Park is home to natural and paved walking trails, a fenced dog park, a music pavilion and a fishing pier. It has always been a favorite among area families but was definitely missing one key feature.
This Thanksgiving, that changes. Dogwood Park has built a fully fenced, mostly-shaded, multi-age playground complete with a carousel for group play - and it will open by Thanksgiving!
Twelve years ago, John Lepke (pictured above) was just a guy who loved his town. He was invited to join the Parks and Rec committee with the town of Wesley Chapel and figured "why not?" he is now the Chairman of the Parks and Rec Committee, a volunteer position, and has spearheaded this project to revamp and modernize Dogwood Park.
"When we first began, the citizen survey did not have 'playground' at the top of our list" Lepke shared with me. "The top three 'must-haves', as identified by our small town, were live music (the amphitheater), paved and unpaved trails that are walkable and a fishing pier." He explained that the pier was donated by the NC Department of Corrections and that the amphitheater is ready to begin hosting concerts and festivals as soon as restrictions are lifted.
"But as soon as the quarantine began, we were able to really focus on the next phase," he said. "So we started working on the playground and it has really come together nicely!"
Designed by Carolina Recreation and built with Playcraft equipment, the playground features two play areas: one for children ages 2-4 and one for ages 5-12. There will be four swings, two for toddler/baby and 2 for older children, as well as a carousel designed for group play. The carousel swings in circles and also has a balancing component to it and looks like it will be a load of fun. Because Lepke not only has his own children, but also has grandchildren, he also kept containment in mind. "We've decided to fence the whole playground to make it easier on the parents to keep their children close and safe," he said. "We also considered how hot it gets here in the spring and summer - so we chose a flat, shaded area to maximize coverage during hot, sunny days."
The playground should be open by Thanksgiving, if not sooner. They are currently completing the grading and adding an ADA-compliant path to the playground. For more information about the park or to check its progress, you can visit the park's facebook page.
Dogwood Park is located at 121 Lester Davis Road; Waxhaw NC 28173
