A Brief History

In 2013, Kennedy Heights Park was becoming dangerous, infamous for dice games and drug deals. When it also became the site of two shocking acts of violence, residents decided that enough was enough. This park belonged to the neighborhood, and it was their right to reclaim it for fun and not fear.

Susan Wade Murphy took an idea to the Kennedy Heights Community Council Safety Committee and shared her idea: a weekly planned community gathering with activities and food, chaperoned by the police to restore a sense of safety to the space. The idea was popular, and Wade Murphy rallied approximately 30 neighbors to pull it off. Their efficiency is a testament to what can be done with enough motivation and enough volunteer power. The first Play in the Park was held on July 24, 2013 and continued weekly through August. By September 3, the event was a cover page story in The Cincinnati Enquirer.

The community initiative has grown over the years, but as Wade Murphy says, “that inspiration and commitment has not waned since 2013.” The program has even grown to bring together generous and supportive partners. The collaboration with the Kennedy Heights Arts Center has become particularly fruitful, with KHAC innovating the “Play in the Street” program in 2020. This event took the music and art on the move, a kind of joy parade traveling through four different areas of Pleasant Ridge and Kennedy Heights as a way to reduce crowd sizes during Covid.

Play in the Park continues to reflect the joyful diversity of our communities as people of many ages, races, genders, and backgrounds come together to enjoy music, art, and each other. All because one person had a big idea.