Playground Built in Memory of Aberdeen Toddler

Aberdeen, NJ - Construction starts Saturday, April 23 on a special new playground in Aberdeen: One built in honor of Owen Taraszkiewicz.

Owen died at 3 years old due to a fatal illness, a rare immunodefiency known as HLH. Owen did not speak until he was 3 years old, but he thrived at Cambridge Park Elementary School, where he attended pre-school, his parents told the Asbury Park Press.

His mother, Megan Taraszkiewicz, said they wanted to give back to Cambridge Park because the school was so supportive of her son. At first, the plan was to build a memorial garden in Owen's memory at the school, but then Megan said she learned the school did not have a fully accessible, special-needs playground. The new playground will be build with the help of a Woodbridge-based non-profit, Where Angels Play Foundation.

The playground will be named after Owen and is slated to open June 3. On Saturday, April 23, the entire Aberdeen community is invited to help start building Owen's playground. All you need to do is show up and sign a waiver, building begins at 9 a.m.!