Peoria, IL: Park adds "allergy-friendly signs" on playground; 1 in 13 kids have severe food allergies

June 25, 2025, WMBD, Peoria: Peoria Heights implements allergy-friendly signs at playground 

A local park has implemented a new rule for its allergy-safe playground.

Peoria Heights Tower Park Playground had a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new allergy sign on Wednesday.

“The signs say, please eat at a designated area. Do not allow your kids to eat on the playground. Wash your hands with soap and water,” Lindsay Spangler, Co-Founder of Red Sneakers Peoria, said. “Don’t give food to other children. It’s obviously not going to make everybody follow those instructions, but at least have some families can read that and understand.”

A spokesperson for Red Sneaker Peoria said in a press release that roughly 1 in 13 children are diagnosed with a severe food allergy, making parents nervous to take them to a playground.

In response to these findings, the Peoria playground is implementing a designated eating area.

“The main thing is just, you know, making people aware to not let your child run on the playground with food. Because only a small amount of that allergen, a trace amount, another allergy family can touch that. That child can cause a severe allergic reaction,” Spangler said.

The playground has made it clear that their goal is not to ban all food from the playground, but to make it a safer place for those with allergies. Cleaning one’s hands is important, and Spangler mentioned her thought process on that topic.