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the glencoe anchor | December 1, 2016 | 3
Rebuilding a memory
Park district opens,
dedicates new Liza
MacLeod Gazebo
Alexandra Greenwald
Freelance Reporter
Friday afternoon, Nov.
25, was cold and gray, but
the weather didn’t deter a
large crowd from gathering
to celebrate the grand
re-opening of Henry J.
Kalk Park and dedication
of the new Liza MacLeod
Gazebo.
The original Liza’s Gazebo
was built 25 years ago
to commemorate the life
of Liza Bates MacLeod,
an 11-year-old Glencoe
resident who died of leukemia
in 1989. When that
structure fell into disrepair,
The Glencoe Park District
sought to create a new gazebo
that continued to honor
its namesake.
“When we were informed
that the old gazebo
was past its useful life, it
was important to me that
whatever we did, we did it
right,” Glencoe Park Board
Commissioner Andre Lerman
told the crowd.
The dedication and grand
opening was planned to
coincide with what would
have been Liza’s 20th
high school reunion. Her
parents, siblings, and several
family members and
friends were present for the
dedication ceremony.
The new gazebo features
a custom design and steel
structure that Lerman said
Donna MacLeod cuts the ribbon during the reopening
ceremony for the reconstructed Liza MacLeod Gazebo
(named in honor of her late daughter) Friday afternoon,
Nov. 25, at Kalk Park in Glencoe. Photos by Rhonda
Holcomb/22nd Century Media
is designed to last for at
least 25 years. Updates to
Kalk Park include a new
walking path that connects
to the Green Bay Trail,
ADA accessibility to the
gazebo and picnic tables,
a bench swing and new
drinking fountains.
A time capsule that had
been buried in the original
gazebo is also encased in
the new structure.
Park district staff added
a new letter to the capsule
to explain the intentions behind
its construction.
“To (Liza’s mother)
Donna and all the friends
and family members here
today, please know that the
Glencoe Park District is
proud to dedicate this new
gazebo in Liza’s memory,”
Commissioner Seth Palatnik
said at the ceremony.
“Liza touched the hearts of
so many, and we are proud
that the new gazebo will
continue to be a symbol of
kindness, love and goodness
for the Glencoe community.”
The ceremony ended
with a rendition of “One
Moment In Time” by Whitney
Houston, the same
song that closed the original
gazebo’s dedication.
Liza’s mother, Donna MacLeod,
cut the ribbon to officially
open the structure.
In addition to the dedication
ceremony, park district
employees provided a
variety of family-friendly
activities, including a hay
bale maze, face painting,
pony rides and a petting
zoo. The Empty Pockets
provided musical entertainment.
“It’s hard to believe that
James West, 5, of
Glencoe, peeks around
the corner of the hay
maze set up Friday in Kalk
Park.
this new group of Glencoe
Park District staff and commissioners
who never even
knew Liza or us took such
beautiful care of honoring
Liza’s memory,” MacLeod
said to the crowd.
“It has been so gratifying
over the years to watch all
that has occurred here and
now we know that enjoyment
will continue for another
Glencoe generation.”
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