Nearly two decades after Clemyjontri Park opened as a place where every child could play, Caroline Simon returned to the colorful McLean playground that carries her family’s name and legacy. Simon, 80, joined fellow residents from Artis Senior Living of Potomac for a picnic outing honoring her connection to the park and celebrating the joy, inclusion and community spirit the park has inspired since 2006.
Residents gathered at the McClean park in Simon’s honor, marking a meaningful return to a place created through the vision and generosity of Adele Lebowitz and the Lebowitz family.
Clemyjontri Park is a pioneering inclusive playground where children with and without disabilities can play side by side. The park features accessible play areas, ramps, supportive swings, a rubberized surface, lowered play equipment, a carousel, a trackless train and picnic spaces designed to help children of all abilities experience the simple freedom of play.
The park’s name, Clemyjontri, was created from the names of Adele Lebowitz’s four children: Carolyn, Emily, John and Petrina. Simon is connected to that legacy through the family story behind the park, making the outing both a celebration of the park’s 20-year milestone and a tribute to a resident whose life is woven into its history.
“This wasn’t about revisiting a place. It was about helping someone revisit a piece of themselves. Dementia may steal memories, but it can never erase a life well lived,” said John-Allen Yutzy, director of sales and marketing for Artis Senior Living of Potomac. “Watching her smile as she remembered the park her family gave to the community reminded me why I do this. There is no greater privilege than helping someone reconnect with the love, purpose and legacy they thought was lost. In those moments you don’t just care for a resident, you give a part of their life back.”
Artis Senior Living of Potomac is located at 8301 River Rd., Bethesda, MD.
About Artis Senior Living
Artis Senior Living, founded in 2012, is a developer, owner and leading operator of memory care and assisted living communities across the United States. The company is dedicated to honoring yesterday and celebrating today by creating safer, more connected and more celebrated lives for residents. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Artis Senior Living operates 26 communities in Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Artis is proud to be Certified by Great Place to Work, the global authority on workplace culture and employee experience. Learn more at ArtisSeniorLiving.com.
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Media Contact: Anne Abraham | 757-403-6094 | [email protected]