MUSKEGON, Mich. — We all have favorites, right? Favorite ice cream, music, movie or color — just to name a few.
A 9-year-old boy from Muskegon had a favorite swing set he played on, before the City decided to take it down. A letter he wrote to City Hall about it landed on the desk of the Mayor, who's strongly considering the boy's plea.
March is Reading Month, and the third grade class at Reeths-Puffer Central Elementary School had a challenge for its students: they needed to identify and discuss a 'Community Need.'
Landon De La Rosa knew immediately what the focus of his need would be.
"It's the swing set," said Landon. "I'd swing on them, then there were no swings and now we got to build them."
The swing set Landon is referring to was next to the pavilion at Muskegon's Pere Marquette Beach. Last year, the City took it down because it no longer complied with health and safety standards, then replaced it with a brand new, large jungle gym.
"We would always play at that playground and Landon just loved that swing," said Sarah De La Rosa, Landon's mother. "He was upset when he saw it was gone."
Landon, who has autism, decided to write a letter to Muskegon City Hall asking if the swing set could be brought back to the beach.
Landon's letter read: "Dear City Leader, I miss swings at Pere Marquette. I like the new playground but wish the swings were there. Please bring swings someday that will make me happy."
Landon mailed the letter to City Hall on March 13. Not only was it received and reviewed by several city commissioners, it landed on the desk of the city's biggest leader — Mayor Steve Gawron.
"We don't get letters like that too often," said Mayor Gawron. "But when we do, you have to respond."
The Mayor was so taken aback by Landon's letter that he decided he wanted to meet the boy. There was no phone number on the letter, so the Mayor decided to do the next best thing.
He went to Landon's house, but nobody was home.
"I went there on a rainy day and dropped my [business] card off, just to let Landon and his family know, 'Hey, I got it,'" said Mayor Gawron.
When the De La Rosas returned later that evening, they saw the Mayor's card and checked their security camera. Sure enough, Muskegon's Mayor was on their doorstep.
"We couldn't believe it," said Sarah.
A meeting was arranged for Landon and the Mayor to meet on March 24 after Landon got out of school. The rendezvous happened at the site of the former swing set at Pere Marquette Beach.
With Landon's letter in hand, the Mayor approached Landon and said, "I'm Mayor Steve. You sent a letter about the possibility of getting a swing set back, right?"
"Yea," said Landon.
"Well, we're talking about it at City Hall and we're going to see what we can possibly work out."
"Okay," Landon said.
Mayor Gawron says he's taking Landon's letter seriously and will look into the feasibility of adding a swing set to the existing play equipment.
"We want the kids' experience here to be the best as possible," said Mayor Gawron. "We can't make any promises but we are doing our homework, and if we decide we can add a swing set here, you can be sure my first phone call to break the news will be to Landon."
For Landon and his family, they never thought a simple class challenge about community needs might actually lead to that need being met.
"I think it's neat that they're looking into it," said Sarah. "Landon's voice was heard, even though he's only 9."
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