Fort Frankfort Renovation Pays Tribute To Dedicated Volunteer

FRANKFORT, IL — The newly renovated Fort Frankfort is now open, and part of the renovation pays a special tribute to an important person in the playground's history.

The playground renovations also included two new pavilions, and one of the pavilions is named after Phil Simmons, a former park district commissioner and volunteer for Operation Playground Foundation, who died in 2024.

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Simmons was a long-time supporter of the park district and helped spearhead Operation Playground Foundation, which was responsible for raising money to build the original Fort Frankfort at Commissioners Park.

Phil's daughter, Sarah Lindgren, who herself is now a member of the Operation Playground Foundation, said the family was honored to see his name on the pavilion.

"When my parents were still alive, we would often meet them at Fort Frankfort and sit under the pavilion, ordering pizza directly to the park," Lindgren told Patch. "I’m honored that my kids can now be reminded of their grandpa through this tradition and smile when they see his name as we play at the park."

Fort Frankfort is officially open for play, and includes several custom components, like a Frankfort Grainery structure. The smaller pavilion provides shade for the splash park, and the larger pavilion is available for rental.

"The newly redesigned, inclusive playground ensures that children of all abilities have the opportunity to play, explore, and connect in a welcoming and accessible environment," the park district said on its website.

A ribbon-cutting for the renovated park took place July 7.