MOUND, Minn. — Of the dozens of people working at Surfside Park in Mound on Thursday, only a handful knew Eli Hart.
But since his death in 2022, they have become his family’s support system — and have made it their mission to create a lasting legacy for him.
Hart’s murder by his birth mother Julissa Thaler sent shockwaves through the Mound community when it happened just over two years ago. Less than two months later, a small group of people got together and got to work. Their hope to establish a foundation in Hart’s name. Shortly afterwards the idea to create a new one arose playground at Surfside Park was on the move.
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“I don’t know if we knew what we were getting into at the beginning,” says Tiffany Beitler, who would later co-found the Eli Hart Foundation. “We just knew we were going to make this happen.”
Beitler, along with co-founders Jen Houghton and Ben Colianni, have young children. The three, strangers before the efforts to support Hart began, are now inextricably linked.
“We’re like a family now, we’re a family,” Houghton said.
“Our kids all play together, we eat together, it’s special,” Beitler said.
Eli’s Memorial Playground
The concept of a memorial playground at Surfside seemed like a perfect match. The current play structure was small and outdated. Not to mention that the community had learned that Hart loved playgrounds, especially swinging along the jungle gyms.
The group would learn that the challenge was great to make their idea a reality.
First of all, they should to raise more than $300,000. Then came convincing the city council – where not everyone was on board.
However, help came quickly – and in large numbers.
At Mound Westonka High School, a group of students from the school’s DECA program took on the project. Their project helped with social media, design and mission and took them to DECA’s international competition, where they came in first place.
“It’s very emotional to be able to drive by here every day and see the progress of this park. It’s very emotional,” said Olivia Adam. “Seeing the effort, how hard people worked, how much support the community showed, all combined into one, is the most rewarding part of this experience.”
“Doing this project really broadened my horizons on how strong the community of Mound is,” says Gabriella Larsen. “And how much they were willing to donate money, time and volunteer time and come together for this cause.”
A perfect concept
The Eli Hart Memorial Playground is a mix of the latest developments in playground accessibility. There are structures designed for every type of child – something that has been done very consciously.
“In terms of the emotional impact, this is absolutely the most important project we have ever done,” said Andrew Pudwill of Midwest Playscapes, who partnered with the Hart Foundation on the project.
The family business said they had already heard of Hart’s story when the foundation contacted them for a quote. For them the project is personal.
“I don’t even know if I want to call it a project,” said Aubrey Pudwill, who oversaw the effort. “It’s so special to work with them, the community and the meaning behind this for Eli, it doesn’t even feel like a job.”
A family, loved
Not a day goes by, Josie Josephson says, when she doesn’t think about Hart.
Josephson, married to Hart’s father Tory, has been the couple’s public voice since Hart’s murder.
“(There’s still) a lot of confusion, a lot of heartache, a lot of pain,” she said. “To see this amazing monumental event take place two years later, there’s so much joy and happiness with it, it’s a lot of mixed emotions.”
Josephson said she couldn’t imagine a better way to honor Hart than a playground — a place where he had some of his happiest memories. Now she hopes other children will have fun in the playground that bears his name.
“There is the sadness that Eli will never be a part of this and be able to respond to this, but the idea that all those affected by his tragedy, his classmates, his community, us, our families, all those people affected by that ripple effect to be able to come here and build joy, happiness and memories, it certainly warms our hearts,” Josephson said. “When they come here, there’s nothing but happiness and joy, and smiles and laughter. It’s exciting to think that this tragedy has given this community and these children that opportunity.”
Overwhelming, Josephson says, is the support her family continues to receive from a community they previously didn’t know.
“I just can’t wrap my head around it. Everyone here has the same goal of getting this park built – it’s such an honorable memory. It just brings joy. It just brings a lot of joy,” she said. “There have been so many people who have surrounded and supported us that the support and love and joy and honor of the community makes all those difficult times easier.”
“There is no way to thank people for actions like this,” Josephson said. ‘Thank you is not enough. They changed our lives forever.”
The Eli Hart Memorial Playground will have a ribbon cutting during the city’s Spirit of the Lakes Festival on July 20.
Adam Duxter
