Children darted through water arches and jets as families, neighbors and city officials gathered Tuesday for the ribbon cutting of a new splash park at Rennebohm Park on Madison’s west side.
The splash park honors Jeff Erlanger, a Madison native and lifelong disability rights advocate who used his experience as a quadriplegic to push for accessibility across the city. Erlanger gained national attention as a child after appearing on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” where his thoughtful conversation with Fred Rogers and subsequent friendship helped shift how disability was discussed on public television.
“This (splash park) is a legacy, yet another legacy of Jeff Erlanger’s to the city of Madison, and I can’t think of a better one,” said Deputy Mayor Katie Crawley, speaking to a small crowd gathered under the park’s shaded picnic area…