The story starts with a vibrant, loving little girl named Annie; a kindergarten student in Bel Air, MD who had a heart of gold and a family who loved her dearly. A tragic accident took Annie away from all those that loved her. In 2003, while leaving the circus Annie was struck by a drunk driver and killed. Through the pain, anger and heartache a community came together to pay tribute to this precious angel.
Annie’s Playground was born:
The Annie Cumpston Playground Foundation received several acres of land on Edgely Grove Farm in Fallston, Maryland from Harford County. After two years of fundraising and the generosity of local families and businesses, construction of the largest playground on the East Coast started in September, 2005. Over a thousand people worked round the clock for weeks to build a playground from the ground up. Several artists from the area spent countless hours painting beautiful paintings on the playground equipment.
Annie’s Playground has several unique features including a treehouse, amphitheater/outdoor classroom, puppet theatre, dragon and elephant slides, baseball area and Memorial Garden. Surrounding the playground are sports complex, ma and pa walking trails, and several picnic areas.
The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Annie’s Playground was on November 13, 2005. Thousands of children and adults, young and old, came out on this beautiful sunny day to be a part of history at the opening of this special place. These children and their children’s children will be a part of the legacy of a place named after a precious little girl named Annie.
This playground is a favorite with my family. Built for the community by the community it entertains EVERYONE. The large maze/structure is fun for older kids while the elephant slide is perfect for the shorties. Shae and I recently took a trip there and as always it was filled with kids of all ages and their families. There is something about the Garden that attracts Shae. She runs her fingers over the donor bricks, sits on the throne and is at peace. I get the feeling she knows that this particular part of the park/playground is extra special.
