Plainfield Park District Dedicates Park in Honor of PFC Andrew Meari

The Plainfield Park District renamed Mayfair Park in honor of PFC Andrew Meari, Saturday, July 13 before a crowd of approximately 200 people. The park is located at the corner of Ruth Fitzgerald and Joe Adler drives, Joliet.

PFC Andrew Meari, was member of the Mayfair Community, who played in Mayfair Park as a child, gave his life in the line of duty on November 1, 2010 in Afghanistan while serving our country.

At the May 13 Board meeting, Plainfield Park District Commissioners voted unanimously to rename in honor of PFC Meari, after hearing from his step-father, Jerry Meehan, how Andrew Meari had spent many hours as a child in that particular park.

At the ceremony Denise Meehan, mother of Andrew Meari, told the crowd “All of our freedom, including kids being able to go somewhere and play, my son died for that.”

Guests that spoke at the ceremony included Lt. Gov. Evelyn Sanguinetti, U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, Joliet Council members Larry Hug and Jim McFarland and Plainfield Park District Board President Mary Kay Ludemann; all addressed the crowd near the newly installed flagpole.

For more information on the Plainfield Park District, call (815) 436-8812 or visit www.plfdparks.org.