Sophie and Madigan's story will not only move you but inspire families to play, learn, and create lifelong memories together. 

Located west of Frederick, near I-70, Sophie & Madigan's Playground is a whimsical playground of fun. Created in honor of Sophie and Madigan Lillard, who tragically passed in a horrific house fire, this playground is bring families from all over and the community together to celebrate the lives of these young girls. The grief-stricken family saw the outpouring of love that the community gave to them after the accident, and inspired them to create this idea of the playground. With none of their possessions surviving the fire, the family realized that creating a memorial and themed playground that reflected their daughter's personalities, while at the same time providing the community with a place to build lifelong memories for families.

And the family did just that. They created a destination playground with fully accessible ground covering and ADA equipment to allow all children the opportunity to play together. With several phases to the playground build, attention to detail does not go unnoticed. The first phase is the Creative Castle. This was named for the giant castle in the center of this section. This three-story castle features slides, climbing, bridges, steps, and more, all hidden by the castle's front. Next to the castle is the Peaceful Pumpkin Patch, which features a custom pumpkin carriage and cozy pumpkin pods. The carriage is a lot of fun pretending to be whisked away while the pods are a great way for children to escape when getting overstimulated. Then, by the pumpkins is the Sunny Kingdom Spinner which is a popular group activity. This allows 20 kids to spin around this cone-shaped, netted spinner for some fun. On the other side of the castle, you will find the King of the Mountain section with a climbing hill, slide, and steps to balance on. Behind this area, you will find the Somewhere Over the Rainbow swing set. A beautiful rainbow on the ground will delight you as you swing on traditional swings, nest swings, ADA swing, and a mommy & me swing. With an all-new playground, the only downside is the lack of trees and shade. During the warmer months, the playground will get rather warm. Bring lots of water, and sunscreen, and come earlier or later in the day to help beat the heat. 

Phase Two, called Wonder Land, will feature teacup spinners, singing flowers, more play equipment, swings, and more. A really cool new carousel is opening in the coming days. Then after that, there will be a phase three. These playgrounds are in the works for the future and if you would like to be a sponsor or contribute in any way, check out the website for more information. 

Not only do they have this amazing playground but several programs for families. The first is the Play Program. This gives children and their families a chance to step outside of their routine to set intentional time to make memories together. Some examples are the Kidstock event, CelebratePLAY, and the Sophie & Madigan PLAY trail. Another program is the Learn. These programs teach children and families the importance of giving back to their community. They help encourage kids to give back in both big and small ways. This allows them to take personal responsibility at the weekly SaMP Kids Club. Then there is the Create program which are for families facing a loss or who are grieving a loss of a loved one. This is to help figure out who best to support families during this time. There are some unique opportunities as well as educational and kid-centered events. 

This story just touches my heart personally and I recommend reading more on their website. This will be one playground that the family won't want to miss. Check it out on your next family adventure. Afterward, head into Frederick for some local eats and treats. You can also find the latest updates on their Facebook page, Twitter, and Instagram @sophie_and_madigans_playground.