Rowan Sweeney Memorial Foundation

10/08/2026

After years of hard work, fundraising, planning, setbacks, dedication, and an incredible amount of support, the Rowan Sweeney Memorial Playground is finally here.

It’s hard to put into words what this moment means to our family.

When we started the Rowan Sweeney Memorial Foundation, we had a dream and a vision. We wanted to take something unimaginably painful and heartbreaking and somehow turn it into something positive. Something that could make a difference. Something that could make the world a little better through Rowan’s name.

And we never gave up on that dream.

Over the years, this journey has not always been easy. There have been long days, difficult decisions, disappointments, and moments when the finish line felt so far away. There were also people who questioned it and didn’t understand everything that goes into the process.

But there were so many more people who believed in us.

To every person who donated, came to a fundraiser, bought a shirt, participated in an event, shared one of our posts, encouraged us, checked in on us, or simply told us to keep going — thank you.

You may never know just how much those small acts of support meant to us. Every donation, every share, every kind word and every person who stood beside us helped carry this vision forward.

This playground represents so much more than a place for children to play.

It represents years of people coming together for a little boy they may have never even had the chance to meet.

Rowan was just four years old.

But his life — and the loss of his life — touched an entire community. His name brought people together. It gave people a reason to come together and do something good. And now, his name will be part of a place where children of all ages and abilities will laugh, play, make memories, and ask who Rowan was…

That is what we always wanted.

We wanted Rowan’s memory to live on forever.

We wanted his story to mean something.

We took something dark and made something beautiful out of it.

Please join us October 17th and enjoy ! Along with some sweet treats and c***r. Following this will also be Boardman Township Park Family Fall Fest. There will be fun fall activities such as wagon rides, pumpkin painting, trick or treating, and so much more. Wear your costumes if you’d like

10/04/2026

Please join us in wishing Rowan a Happy Heavenly Birthday. Today he would be 11 years old….. His playground will be open in just a few short weeks

09/21/2026

6 years ago today we horrifically lost Rowan in such a senseless act of violence. Since then, we have been working endlessly to keep his name and memory alive

6 years of unbearable heartbreak has met 6 years of unwavering purpose

Our hope has always been that, one day, Rowan’s story will be remembered not simply for the tragedy of how we lost him, but for the love, kindness, and positive impact his memory has brought to our community. His life was far too short, but his impact does not have to be.

09/11/2026

Never Forget

08/30/2026

We are incredibly grateful to every person who has supported our foundation over the years — to those who believed in us, cared about Rowan’s story, and continued to stand beside us. Whether you have donated, attended our fundraisers, shared our story, volunteered your time, or simply followed us along the way, every bit of support has meant so much. You have also given us the patience to see this vision through, understanding that bringing a project like this to life takes much more than what is seen on the surface. There are countless details, logistics, planning, partnerships, and legalities that go into making something like this a reality, and your continued support and belief in us throughout that process has meant everything. This moment would not be possible without you, and we are truly grateful to every person who has been a part of this journey with us

We also want to recognize the incredible dedication of our Foundation Board members — past and present. So much work happens behind the scenes. Every dollar we have raised has been earned through hard work and fundraising, and we are incredibly proud that those dollars go right back into the community.

Being able to make a positive difference in the lives of others through Rowan’s name and legacy is something that means more to us than we can put into words. We hope we can continue to build on what we’ve started and create lasting, positive change for years to come.

We are especially thankful for our partnership with Boardman Township Park. Their team has been wonderful to work with, and it is clear how much care and pride they take in providing a beautiful place for our community.

This first phase of the playground will provide an inclusive space for families and children of all ages/abilities, and we are already looking ahead. With continued fundraising and the support of our community, we hope to advance the playground through a second phase that will include more advanced features and accessible surfacing, making the space all inclusive.

Once installation is complete, we will be planning a grand opening celebration and inviting the entire community to come out, enjoy the playground, and celebrate this special milestone with us. It will be our privilege to share that day with the community that has supported us every step of the way.

All for you Rowan 💙

Six years after 4-year-old Rowan Sweeney was killed during a home invasion in Struthers, his family and the community are turning his memory into something meant to bring joy to

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

Groundbreaking will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 29, at Boardman Park.

08/26/2026

We are excited to announce that this weekend we will be breaking ground on the construction of Rowan’s memorial playground, during the Community Market at Boardman Park !

We look forward to celebrating with the community after the installation is complete with a future grand opening day 💙

08/26/2026

We are heartbroken and disturbed to learn about the loss of another child in our community. Rest in heaven Elijah Dennis. God bless his family and all who loved him. May justice be served

Elijah Dennis was in the hospital on life support after police said he was shaken by Christian Jones, who was babysitting him while his parents went shopping.

07/18/2026

Check out the baskets for our raffle today at East Side Civics. Even if you don’t ride, stop on our and win yourself an item. Enjoy some delicious BBQ along with some separate raffles such as a 65 inch TV and signed Boom Boom Mancini merch!

Food will be served around 2pm!