Hannah’s Memorial Playground opens in Irvington as pedestrian safety remains an issue

The grand opening of Hannah’s Memorial Playground was a celebration marked by the squeals and laughter of children and the tears of a community still grieving the loss of a 7-year-old girl.

Hannah Crutchfield, a first grader at George W. Julian School 57 in Irvington, was killed in a crosswalk car crash while walking home from school in September 2021.

Students at Hannah’s school were the ones who first came up with the idea to redesign and reconstruct two conjoined playgrounds in her honor. Michelle Pleasant, the PTSA president at the George Julian school and a co-chair of the Hannah’s Memorial Playground project, said the former playgrounds were “a little broken and very beige — they didn’t represent the joy that we felt in that space, and they didn’t reflect Hannah’s spirit. This idea, this direction felt right.”

Coming up with the money to make the new playground facility a reality was a massive community undertaking, according to those involved. Ultimately, parents raised roughly $240,000 from local foundations, businesses, charitable funds and more than 750 individual donations.

The funding covered the cost of new bright blue and yellow equipment, as well as several murals that surround one of the playground spaces; local artists and students contributed to the artwork, which features flowers and bugs — things that Hannah loved.

“Never underestimate determined parents and a supportive community, which really showed our kids what hard work, dedication and love can do,” said Hillary Brown, co-chair of the Hannah’s Memorial Playground project.

Hannah’s mother, Cassandra Crutchfield, said her daughter was well known and well-loved by the George Julian community. Crutchfield said she would bring Hannah to the school’s playground when they went to pick up her older sister Charlotte from school.

“Hannah loved to play. She was brave and adventurous. She was kind and an inclusive friend. Hannah was great at making sure that you knew that she loved you. Especially when saying goodbye. She would want hugs and kisses and say, ‘I love you infinity times infinity,’” Crutchfield said. “We will always remember her loving and playful spirit.”

Increases in pedestrian fatalities

Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Aleesia Johnson said she was heartbroken by the news of Hannah’s senseless death. She teared up as she addressed the crowd gathered to honor the first grader’s memory.

“And it's a day that I won't forget, driving to this building, sitting in the conference room with principal [Chanté] Campbell and teachers, with such a feeling of hopelessness and sadness for a tragedy that we all know and wish would have been avoided,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the district has educated students about traffic safety and supported policies at the city level to address pedestrian safety.

Forty pedestrians were killed by drivers last year, according to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. The Indianapolis Star reported that last year’s death toll is a grim record-setting figure for the city.

Crutchfield, Hannah’s mother, said she testified at the Statehouse recently in favor of a bill authored by Sen. Andrea Hunley (D-Indianapolis), a former IPS principal. Senate Bill 233 would establish the “vision zero task force,” a group charged with studying and making recommendations to reduce fatalities on roads and highways.

Democrat Rep. Blake Johnson, who represents the Irvington community, also filed traffic safety legislation, but that bill did not receive a hearing in a House committee.

Aleesia Johnson said city and state officials need to do more to ensure the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. She also urged drivers to slow down.

“That extra five minutes could be the difference between a baby getting home to their family or not,” Johnson said.

Hannah’s death has been difficult for Hillary Brown, the co-chair of the playground project, to talk about and process with her daughter.

“[Hannah] was following all of the rules and crossing with the crossing guard and her mom. And it makes it difficult because we've had to have those hard conversations about how drivers are not always keeping us safe,” Brown said.

Pleasant, the PTSA president and playground project co-chair, said she’s had “so many close calls and scary situations just navigating our neighborhood on a daily basis.” She said Hannah’s death has motivated her to advocate for pedestrian safety.

“This is a playground and a memorial, but we also want it to be a reminder to people that they need to prioritize pedestrians and cyclists and their safety because we don't want to have to do things like this again, ever again,” Pleasant said.

Contact WFYI education reporter Lee V. Gaines at lgaines@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @LeeVGaines.