MOUNT VERNON — Next to a 7-acre blossoming wildflower field lies Grace Brethren Church‘s brand new Meadowside Playground.
The space officially welcomed parents and kids on Aug. 1 under blue skies and a slight breeze, giving the nearby wind chime a nice tune.
The wildflower field was first planted in 2019, marking Phase One of this project. Pastor Justin Bryant stewarded the space into a place where people can ditch technology and be outside.
“We’re learning about it, and we have some weeds and things that we need to get out of it, but there’s a lot of beauty, and things develop season by season,” Bryant said. “What was basically an empty field has been turned into something that I see people out here taking senior pictures, taking walks, things like that.”
Bryant said the idea for the playground came from a verse in the Book of Isaiah.
“I love the precision of the verse. It says, ‘The Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,'” Bryant read.
All good things usually have a theme, and the same is true for the meadow and playground. Bryant noted the church’s theme last year was beauty, blending nicely with the growth of the meadow and the planning stages of the playground.
Fittingly, the church’s theme this year is joy. To tie everything together, a cursive maze spelling ‘joy’ was mowed into the meadow.
The next beautiful and joyful steps
The City of Mount Vernon is preparing to break ground on a mixed-use path, which will link several areas around the playground.
“[The path] is going to run from the elementary school down near the cemetery, and it’s going to end basically right in front of our church,” Bryant said. “So all of those neighborhoods north of the cemetery will be able to safely walk here.”
Other possible future improvements include:
- Seeded grass
- An embankment slide sunk in the soil
- A bench
- Signage
- Newly planted trees
“I know some churches are known for sports programs, some churches are known for a food pantry. I’m hoping that this church becomes known for beauty … because love and beauty point us back to God,” Bryant said.
Knox Community Hospital proudly supports the vibrant pulse of our community by sponsoring the Life & Culture section on Knox Pages, celebrating the stories and experiences that make our region unique.