Photo Credit: Kevin Mitchel
Casey Tridico, a 7-year-old girl from Grapevine, Texas, was full of life, smiles, and dreams. Unfortunately, she had a neuromuscular disease that confined her to a wheelchair, although that didn’t slow her down. At the time of her death, in July 1995, Casey was serving as the Texas Goodwill Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. One of her dreams was to find a playground that would allow her to keep up with her able-bodied friends. Casey’s Clubhouse is that playground. Although she never lived to see it, the visitors who listen carefully might hear the delightful laughter of a little angel whose dream has come true.
Casey’s memory is alive and well today. In 1996, her mother Debra began a mission to create a place for children to play together, regardless of their abilities. Her goal was to raise $250,000 for this unique playground. While this was an extremely ambitious project, more than 1,000 donors, from individuals and families to small businesses and large corporations, stepped up to make this dream a reality. After the money was raised, the state rewarded Debra with a matching grant, and construction soon began. On May 30, 1998, Casey’s Clubhouse opened to the public.
For the past 15 years, this playground has been filled with kids joining in on the fun, with many birthday parties hosted at its pavilion.