Kim Pederson, daughter of Stuart and Faye Pedersen, was on hand for the installation of a sign honoring her parents for their contributions to the playground in Warrens.
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Warrens Area Park, the playground has been dedicated as Pedersen Park in recognition of the donations made by the late Stuart and Faye Pedersen.
The Warrens couple funded the purchase of the playground equipment and the construction of the park, which opened in October 2014.
“This month marks the 10th anniversary of our beloved park in Warrens. We felt it was the ideal time to honor the Pedersens for their immeasurable generosity,” said Warrens Area Youth Association board member Selena Meacham.
When the Pedersens learned of the proposed playground, they asked WAYA Treasurer Amy Gebhardt to meet with them. Due to the estimated cost of the project, Gebhardt explained WAYA had planned to construct the playground in phases.
“Mom and Dad talked it over and were concerned if the Youth Association did it in stages that the first part of the playground would get worn out by the time the last part would be erected. They thought it would be better to do the whole thing all at the same time,” said the couple’s daughter, Kim Pedersen.
The Pedersens had been setting funds aside over the years to help fund a project and hoped that there would one day be a community playground in Warrens, Pedersen said.
The couple were the owners of Jellystone Campground, which they opened in 1971 and operated until selling it in 1989. The Pedersens at one time also owned Great Rivers Irrigation, a cranberry marsh and a strawberry farm.
The name change for the park was approved by both the Warrens Area Youth Association, who spearheaded the playground project, and the Warrens Village Board, who owns the land the playground occupies.
The playground sits on a portion of the land that the Pedersens donated to the Village of Warrens in 1982. The 4.83 acres of land also encompasses the ballfield and concession stand. The acreage had originally been home to a chicken and turkey farm operated by Stuart Pedersen’s father, Hans Pedersen.
“Because of the Pedersen family’s big hearts, our Warrens community has wonderful places to enjoy and have fun with family and friends,” Meacham said.
The late Stuart and Faye Pedersen had asked that their donation remain anonymous, but later agreed to have their name listed with other benefactors. Mr. Pedersen died Nov. 8, 2023. Mrs. Pedersen passed away 12 days later on Nov. 20, 2023.