KEEPING ACTIVE in loving memory

Stella Maris Academy opens new playground dedicated to devoted father

STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAVID BALLARD

On a recent Duluth afternoon, Hilaire Hauer did her best to line up students on the fresh concrete surface that makes up a basketball court just outside the St. James Catholic School campus of Stella Maris Academy, of which Hauer is president. The students were fidgety and excited, talking loudly with each other, in anticipation of being released to play on the expanse of shiny new playground space and equipment.

But play would have to wait as parents, staff, friends and students of the St. James school gathered under drizzly skies to officially bless and open the newly renovated playground.

The playground was named in honor of Dr. George Jennings, who passed away in 2015 at age 44 from a brain tumor. Jennings was a doctor with Essentia Health in Duluth and was also a parent of four children who attend St. James.

“George was very active in supporting the school through fundraising and anything that needed to be done,” said Principal Julianne Blazevic. “He was a very active person and loved to see kids active, so it was a natural fit to name this space after him”

The Jennings family, including his parents, Len and Mary Lou Jennings; wife, Cindy Jennings; and four children, Jacob, Lenny, Samuel, and William, were present at the dedication. Cindy spoke of George’s love for the school and his dedication to children. She tearfully expressed how proud he would have been in how beautifully it turned out.

The play space is dotted with new slides, swings, a merry-go-round, a green space, and new basketball court, which was designed with input from the students.

“We asked what the students wanted most“ Blazevic said. “They wanted to keep the old metal merry-go-round, which was not viable due to age,” Blazevic said, laughing. “But they also wanted more swings, a green space, and a basketball court. We did our best to accommodate their request.”

The new space, constructed this summer with the help of 40-50 volunteers from the school and parish, was a needed change for the private Catholic school campus of 150 PreK-8th grade students.

“We needed to update and replace the older equipment, which was put in the 1990s. We had pea rock on the ground, which was not safe compared to the current engineered wood chips” Blazevic said.

The playground will not only serve the school, but the West Duluth neighborhood as well.

“We want to keep the space open for the community as well,” Blazevic said. “I have driven by and seen kids playing on it, and they tell me they absolutely love it. I know the neighbors really appreciate it and will help us take care of it.”

The new space will not only be physically newer and safer, but it is also covered by a fresh spiritual blessing. Father Richard Kunst read a blessing and prayed for safety and peace before the playground was declared open. Dr. Jennings’ sons Jacob and William each took a handle of a large scissors and cut a red ribbon to applause and cheers.

“It’s wonderful to have God be a part of it and be blessed by him,” Blazevic said. “For us to start a new and fresh is wonderful. It’s by God’s grace we got this new equipment.”

The eager students would have to wait to play, however. As soon as the ends of the ribbon touched the ground, Hauer directed everyone inside for a beginning of the school year assembly. As rain began to fall, students and parents filed into the brick building. But the temptation was too much for a small handful of students who could not wait any longer and ran over to try out one of the new slides and spin on the new plastic merry-go-round several times before their parents called them inside.

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