By Kathleen McSweeney

It is hard to speak with Lyon Park neighbor Darcy Rosenbaum on any topic without noting her energy and constant stream of ideas. Asking her about her involvement in Lyon Park brings her enthusiasm to the next level. She reminisces about contacting Jeannette Wick in 2017 to volunteer and it was suggested she chair the annual Spring Fair. To many people, that would not be the ideal entry-level volunteer opportunity. But this is Darcy, who professionally had served for almost two decades as the membership director, development leader, and then Chief Operating Officer of The Arc—a community-based advocacy organization for people with intellectual and developmental challenges—and she was used to organizing big events. She jumped right in.

She has chaired the Spring Fair a few more times since, and each time has introduced improvements to the games and activities. In 2023, she retired the decades-old wooden corrals, and gave the fair a fresh look (and shade for volunteers) by purchasing matching pop-up tents to house the carnival games. She fondly remembers learning how to assemble the old fair corrals from now-deceased neighbor and volunteer extraordinaire Michael O’Connor, and how neighbors Chuck Phillips and Paul Showalter are always on hand to provide their expertise or an extra set of hands.

“When you start volunteering for one thing, it is easy to volunteer for other neighborhood events.” Darcy has
held the many volunteer positions since she started volunteering seven years ago: Spring Fair coordinator, 

LPCA Co-President (with Peter Zirnite), membership chair, prior webmaster, coordinator for the Kids Holiday Party, Centennial Celebration co-chair, assisted with the Santa Express, and continues to update the Teen Services listing for the LPCA newsletter. She also has the clean-up checklist for the community center committed to memory.

Volunteering is a family affair. Husband John is often seen compiling, constructing, hammering, and hauling for events, and famously built the Speakeasy door neighbors used to enter the Lyon Park Centennial Celebration in 2019. Their son Benton has been a volunteer since he was three, when he made his debut as an elf on
Santa’s sleigh.

Darcy loves the rich history of our neighborhood and notes that having volunteers maintain the park and community house is a large part of what makes Lyon Park a special place. Neighbors like Darcy—who orchestrates fun events and implements new ideas to reinvigorate neighborhood traditions—play a substantial role in creating a strong sense of community in Lyon Park.