Marguerite Ickis Playground - Johnny A. Kelley Recreation Area - Dennis, MA
Posted by: 
silverquill
N 41° 42.073 W 070° 09.562
19T E 403535 N 4617252
This is a 25-acre park with multiple recreational facilities, named in honor of world renowned marathon runner and local resident, Johnny Kelley. This playground features high quality play equipment made from recycled materials.
Waymark Code: WMGTVJ
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 04/09/2013
Views: 2
This play structure features the Braille alphabet, in keeping with the park highlight of the Dennis Braille Trail which starts near the play area.
Near the entrance and parking area of this park is a play area with several high-quality play structures, with a wood chip covering on the ground, so there is a variety of experiences for the children.
One of the unique facts about these play structures is that they are manufactured using recycled materials. The result is quite striking.
This impressive park is one of the gems of the Dennis Recreation Department. One of its unique features is the
Braille Trail which has interpretive signs in Braille along its course.
The park also has two fitness trails which feature high quality exercise stations. There are several soccer fields and baseball diamonds, a set of three basketball courts. The nearby set of tennis courts is fenced and well-maintained. The picnic tables and grills are located next to a covered pavilion and rest rooms.
There is parking for 75-100 cars. The park is centrally located C\within the town with easy access from the Mid-Cape Highway (Rt. 6) at Exit 9.
The setting has maintained much of the natural wooded area, so the trails and fields give the feeling of that natural setting. There is still much undeveloped land within the park. All facilities are modern and well maintained.
For further reference:
Dennis Open Space and Recreation Plan
This recreation area is named in honor of local resident John Adelbert "Johnny" Kelley (September 6, 1907 – October 6, 2004) whose accomplishments in long-distance running are legendary. He twice represented the United States in the Olympics, 1936 and 1948. But it was his participation on the Boston Marathon, and other events, that endeared him to the hearts of people. He completed the Boston Marathon a record 61 times with first place finishes in 1935 and 1945, and placed second a record seven times. He ran his last complete Boston Marathon in 1992 at the age of 84. He is interred at the East Dennis Cemetery. (Source: Wikipedia: Johnny Kelley)