Honor Veterans Sunday at Community Park

Darien joins communities across the nation in celebration of Veterans Day, established in commemoration of Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I.

Darien VFW Post 2838 invites the community to the annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Peace Memorial at Darien Community Park at Plainfield and Clarendon Hills roads. The event will feature a special commemoration of the 50-year anniversary of the Vietnam War. According to the U.S. Census Bureau: Veteran’s Day originated as “Armistice Day ” on Nov. 11, 1919, the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance, and Nov. 11 became a national holiday beginning in 1938.President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed legislation in 1954 to change the name to Veterans Day as a way to honor those who served in all American wars. The day honor military veterans with parades and …

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Police, Park District Want Residents to ‘Enjoy the Park’

Increased police presence a result of new initiative at Darien Community Park

Darien Community Park at Plainfield and Clarendon Hills roads offers plenty of amenities for all ages to enjoy. At nearly 20 acres, the park features two picnic pavilions, four tennis courts, two basketball courts, two sand volleyball courts, a soccer field, baseball fields, two playgrounds and restroom facilities. But the park is of little use to residents if they don’t feel safe there – whether they have heard rumors about crimes being committed at the park or simply perceive that the park may not be a place they can comfortably enjoy with their families. In response to those perceptions, the City of Darien and Darien Park District have begun taking a stance against those who may disrupt the enjoyment of other park-goers. Through the new…

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Andrew Salgado – Unplugged

Despite a few setbacks, the aspiring country music star delighted his audience Wednesday night at Darien Community Park.

Singer/songwriter Andrew Salgado was living his dream last week as he collaborated with other musicians and worked toward inking a record deal in Nashville, the Mecca for aspiring country music stars. The Darien native left the sights and sounds of the Music City behind on Wednesday, driving all the way back from Nashville to perform for a hometown audience at Darien Community Park that night. The setting was perfect for a summer concert. A warm breeze wafted through the trees as about 100 concert-goers ranging in age from 4 to 94 settled into lawn chairs or reclined on blankets spread out on the grass, and moms and dads dipped into picnic baskets as their kids played nearby. A hush fell over the crowd as Salgado stepped up to the …

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Ice Cream Social, Chi-Town Showstoppers at Darien Community Park

Support the Darien Historical Society during its annual ice cream social, followed by a free performance from the Chi-Town Showstoppers Wednesday at Darien Community Park.

Darien Dash 2012 Photos, Part Three

The final part in a three-part gallery of race day photos.

Hundreds of racers—from as far away as Rockford—gathered in Darien Community Park Sunday for the 12th annual Darien Chamber of Commerce Darien Dash. This year's event included a 5K, 10K and 1-mile fun run. View our photo gallery of the day's races and add your own pictures. Don't see your picture here? Check the first gallery we posted Monday and the second gallery we posted Tuesday! Get Darien Patch directly in your inbox by signing up for our daily newsletter.  

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Darien Dash 2012: More Photos from Sunday's Race

Part two in a three-part gallery of race day photos.

Hundreds of racers—from as far away as Rockford—gathered in Darien Community Park Sunday for the 12th annual Darien Chamber of Commerce Darien Dash. This year's event included a 5K, 10K and 1-mile fun run. View our photo gallery of the day's races and add your own pictures. Don't see your picture here? Check the first gallery we posted Monday, or come back Wednesday for the third installment of Darien Dash photos! Get Darien Patch directly in your inbox by signing up for our daily newsletter.

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Racers Speed through Sun-Filled Darien Dash (PHOTOS)

Part one in a three-part gallery of race day photos.

Hundreds of racers—from as far away as Rockford—gathered in Darien Community Park Sunday for the 12th annual Darien Chamber of Commerce Darien Dash. This year's event included a 5K, 10K and 1-mile fun run. View our photo gallery of the day's races and add your own pictures. Don't see your picture here? Check Tuesday's gallery for more photos! Get Darien Patch directly in your inbox by signing up for our daily newsletter.

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Darien Playground Gets Second Life in Haiti

The group Kids Around the World dismantled a playground from Darien Community Park and reassembled it at an orphanage near Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Grace Village is an orphanage located in Titanyen, Haiti, just a few miles from a mass grave where thousands of the dead from the 2010 earthquake are buried. Many of the orphans lost their parents to hurricanes, cholera, AIDS or sheer poverty, according to the group Healing Haiti, which constructed Grace Village. “Anything you can imagine about the conditions (in Haiti)—it’s worse than that,” said Mike Young, regional vice president of Rockford-based nonprofit Kids Around the World. The kids' lives have been grim to this point, but the Darien Park District is giving them one of the most precious gifts a child could receive—the gift of play. One of the two playgrounds dismantled last year from Darien Community Park found a new home this …

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Lauren Williamson

11:32 am on Friday, April 13, 2012

Hi everyone, For some reason, not every comment made on this story has showed up because of a bug from a site update. I apologize to the other people who wrote very touching comments about the playground. We're working on getting the problem fixed, and hopefully your comments will appear soon.   more ›

Readers' Choice

Readers' Choice: Which Park Do You Pick When the Sun Comes Out?

Patch asks readers to share their favorite parks in Darien.

We’ve been so lucky that spring has come early this year to Darien. So where do you hang out when it’s sunny outside? Help your friends and neighbors by directing them to your favorite park in Darien. There are so many that we’re only listing a small selection. If we left your top pick off the list, tell us about it in the comments. You can vote by clicking the park’s name and leaving a review, voting in our poll or leaving a message in the comments. 

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VIDEO: Veterans Day Ceremony at Darien Community Park

VFW Post 2838 joined community officials to pay tribute to veterans Friday at Darien Community Park.

VFW Post 2838 joined community officials to pay tribute to veterans Friday at Darien Community Park.

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