A dad named Ryan Contacted me. He and his wife and family lost a baby at a week old named Cayden. Literally they held him and loved him for 7 days and he was gone. I can’t imagine that feeling, wouldn’t want to, but I have had friends and family experience such losses of children.
This family while working through their grief developed a tribute to their infant son in a West Pikeland Township Park that was a sand lot fo other kids to enjoy. It was named and dedicated “Cayden’s Corner.” Over the past two years, Cayden’s Corner has become both a memorial to their deceased son and a place where who knows how many hundreds of children have played. It was built and dedicated in Pine Creek Park.
So apparently, West Pikeland Township which always seems super secretive (like do they record meetings yet?) and insular in an unhealthy way has been pursuing a larger playground improvement project at Pine Creek Park using grants and donations. A committee was formed to assist with that effort, but despite Ryan Leithead’s involvement in creating Cayden’s Corner and assisting with playground grant efforts, he was not included in those discussions? Like for real? How crass, right?
To add to this, Ryan also learned that the proposed playground redesign may involve relocating Cayden’s Corner and altering or removing the existing memorial signage and dedication that were part of the original project, and for real? Nice way for the township to make this family experience more grief and literally feel shat upon in my humble opinion.
So Ryan went to the Board of Supervisors meeting I guess last evening to speak about his concerns. During the public discussion that followed, it became clear that there are differing opinions regarding the future of Cayden’s Corner and the memorial elements associated with it.
To be very clear, Ryan Leithead is NOT opposed to improving the playground.
He supports investing in Pine Creek Park and creating an even better playground for the families of West Pikeland.
His only request is that every effort be made to preserve the memorial that already exists and that his family be included in discussions affecting something that was built in memory of their son.
Here is video:
Here is Ryan’s written statement:
Good Evening Supervisors,
My name is Ryan Leithead. I am a member of the Parks and Recreation Committee, a West Pikeland resident, and most importantly, Cayden’s father.
My wife Denise is here with me tonight, and this is her first time attending a Board of Supervisors meeting.
In December of 2022, my wife and I experienced every parent’s worst nightmare when our son Cayden passed away just seven days after he was born.
Like many families who suffer a loss like that, we struggled to find a way to channel our grief into something positive.
Working with the Township, I proposed the creation of a sand play area at Pine Creek Park that would become known as Cayden’s Corner.
What was created was far more than a donation.
I personally funded the project.
I selected the equipment and design with the assistance of a trusted and certified local playground contractor.
I helped raise additional funds and secure labor and material donations from members of our community totaling more than $25,000 in value.
I personally built much of the project with my own hands over the course of several months, working from plans reviewed by the Township engineer and supported by Township leadership at the time.
I also assisted with the original playground grant effort by securing a professional playground design and layout at no cost from the same playground contractor and by providing letters of support and community-impact information for both grant applications.
The project was completed and dedicated just before the first anniversary of Cayden’s passing.
For my family, Cayden’s Corner is not simply a playground feature.
It is a memorial.
It represents countless hours of work, healing, remembrance, love, and community support during one of the most difficult periods of our lives.
Over the past two years, I have watched hundreds of children enjoy that space.
That has brought comfort not only to me, but to my family as well.
It was recently brought to my attention that the current playground planning process may significantly alter Cayden’s Corner, including the potential relocation of the entire sand play area and associated equipment, as well as the possible removal of the memorial sign and designation.
That is why I am here tonight.
I fully support improving Pine Creek Park Playground and I am not asking the township to halt the project.
I am asking the Township to preserve Cayden’s Corner as part of that project, consistent with the commitment the Township made in writing when the project was donated, approved, and dedicated to the memory of my son.
If there are accessibility improvements that need to be made, I have repeatedly asked to be included in those discussions and would welcome the opportunity to work collaboratively toward solutions that improve accessibility while preserving the memorial.
But I am asking that every effort be made to preserve the memorial that already exists before deciding that it must be removed or relocated, particularly when it was created through significant personal effort, community support, and Township partnership.
I am also deeply concerned by discussions regarding the potential removal of the Cayden’s Corner memorial sign and designation. For my family, the name, sign, and dedication are an important part of the memorial. After everything that went into creating Cayden’s Corner in the aftermath of our son’s passing, the possibility of removing that dedication feels deeply hurtful and difficult to understand.
The name, sign, and dedication are an important part of the memorial and should not be discarded.
Before any final decisions are made, I respectfully ask the Board to consider what Cayden’s Corner means to my family, the circumstances under which it was created, and whether there is a path to improve the playground while preserving the memorial that already exists.
When most people look at Cayden’s Corner, they see a sandbox. When they hear out story they begin to see what my family sees.
We see a memorial built for a little boy whou never had a chance to play there.
We see a place where our two living children can play along side their brother in spirit, and where community children can play in Caydens Memory.
And I see something I built for my son.
Thank you for your time.
Ryan also sits on the board of an amazing organization called “A Haven“. It is a child and family grief center.
I am asking people to contact West Pikeland Township ASAP and demand Cayden’s Corner and Cayden’s memory as dedicated there be maintained.
Oh and not for nothing, Ryan shelled a lot of personal funds and sweat equity into this to make it happen.
As per West Pikeland’s lame website this is the current manager:
TOWNSHIP MANAGER
Joan Blatcher
610-590-5300
Here are the supervisors whom should ALL know better and whom should be considerate about this:
Chair
Thomas J. McLewee Jr.
Term Expires: 1/2/2030
Vice Chair
Noreen Vigilante
Term Expires: 1/2/2030
Supervisor
Steven F. Costa
Term Expires: 1/2/2028
Supervisor
Harold M. Hallman III
Term Expires: 1/5/2032
Supervisor
Bryan Maher
Term Expires: 1/5/2032
