When most people think of the University of Illinois Research Park, they conjure of images of deep science and technology innovation — not the kind of park where one would find a playground.
Until today, that is. The Research Park has installed a first-of-its kind playground amenity in Champaign-Urbana, locating a Global Spinner right next to the grounds best known for staging the Outside at Research Park concert event. The Spinner looks just like it sounds — a globe that spins. In this case, it’s an Orange and Blue globe, and has space for climbing, exploring, and sitting.
Research Park officials wanted to have the Global Spinner available for kids to play on during this year’s Outside Concert event on Friday, July 20. More significantly, it will serve as a memorial tribute to a Savoy mom and her three children, who passed away after a tragic car accident in March.
Jessica Weinhold-Brokish was a longtime employee of Common Ground Research Networks, which is located in UIRP. Her surviving husband, Jeff, works at Riverbed, also in the Research Park. A plaque in memory of Jessica Weinhold-Brokish and their three young children, Finnegan, Liam, and Amelia, will be placed at a later date.
“The Brokishes have been part of the Research Park for many years,” said Research Park director Laura Frerichs. “The spinner adds to the family-friendly tech community at the Research Park, and was a way to memorialize our community’s tragic loss.”
The equipment is right across the street from the I-Hotel and Conference Center, and can be seen from First Street just south of St. Mary’s Road. It is right next to the “mounds” where kids often slide and play, especially during the Research Park concert. The spinner currently has a temporary foam padding underneath it, but the plan is to build a more permanent rubber padding across the structure.
The spinner’s inclusive design means it can hold up to 14 children at one time. It rotates, but is limited to slower speeds and has been designed so that it can’t be turned too quickly.
Check out our video of the Global Spinner on Instagram.