Twenty years of coverage

Home Town Heroes: The Garg Family

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKEF) — On July 26, 2006, 6-year-old Yukta Garg was tragically killed in a car accident at the entrance of the Washington Township RecPlex.

In the 19 years since her death, her parents have been keeping her memory alive by establishing a non-profit organization that supports activities and causes within Washington Township that benefit and support local children.

Yukta Garg was a 6-year-old little girl who loved to sing, dance, and chat with all of her friends.

“She was a deeply, deeply loving younger sister to our older daughter, as you can see, daddy’s darling daughter, a fiercely loyal friend, and she was very confident in her day-to-day dealings,” said Arti Garg, Yukta’s mother.

However, tragedy struck on July 26, 2006, when the car she was riding in was t-boned outside of the Washington RecPlex as she was heading to a summer camp.

Yukta lost her life that day, and her parents have been working to make that area safer while keeping her memory alive.

“So our immediate reaction to that was that it shouldn’t have happened and it should not happen to anyone else so we set up the foundation and then put an online petition for the Department of Transportation, and within four days got 2,000+ signatures supporting our ask, request,” said Hemant Garg, Yukta’s father.

ODOT did a traffic study in that area and determined that they needed to make that stretch of 725 safer.

“What that does is that no one can now take a left turn, it only allows the right turn, which streamlines the traffic, but in any case we took care of that, and it was mainly for the safety of other people, and it’s mostly kids who come to the rec center,” said Hemant Garg.

In addition, the Garg family started the Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation that has raised over $90,000 over the years and has made incredible impacts in the Washington Township community, including building a Butterfly Playground at the RecPlex for other children.

“This playground is much more than a butterfly playground for us it is the way of keeping her memory alive, and when we see kids laughing, playing, and having a good time, both of us feel that Yukta is still there giggling, laughing, and, who knows, even chasing butterflies,” said Arti Garg.

The Gargs have worked so hard to make Washington Township safer and even more family-friendly than it was before, and it’s all in honor of Yukta.

“This July it will be 19 years, but it is still very fresh. You know people say time is a healer, I would say for us it was like yesterday. I don’t think time heals it. I think what helped us the most was channeling our energy,” said Hemant Garg.

“This is a place where kids come together, families come together, and they form bonds that stay forever, and that is the most important thing, that they are making beautiful memories,” said Arti Garg.

Centerville Neighbors magazine did the cover story on the Garg family for its June 2020 issue.

Read the full feature, including additional photos from the shoot (PDF).

Live TV Interviews on abc22 and Fox45 TV Channels – Feb 6, 2020

https://www.whio.com/news/local/washington-twp-parents-turn-grief-into-playgrounds/InMTpvgUHSJuCMRuIRFbMO/

Township Residents Arti and Hemant Garg are Ohio Citizens of the Year

Washington Twp. parents turn grief into playgrounds

Published:

Monday, February 03, 2020 @ 12:30 AM

By:

Wayne Baker – Staff Writer

WASHINGTON TWP.

—

In 2006, Arti and Hemant Garg’s 6-year-old daughter, Yukta, was killed in a car crash as she was leaving the Washington Twp. Rec Center after a day at summer camp.

In the 13 years since, they have transformed their grief into action, founding the Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation, raising $50,000 through a series of Bollywood concerts, and working hand-in-hand with township staff to establish three separate playgrounds.

The Gargs have been recognized as Citizens of the Year by the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association, which will honor the couple at the association’s annual banquet held Tuesday in Sandusky. The award makes them feel that their efforts to give back to the community in the name of their daughter have been appreciated.

“We did not expect it when we were notified that we were going to be recognized by the OPRA Citizens of the year. We were nevertheless delighted that our ongoing efforts to help and giving back to the community since the horrible tragedy being recognized,” Hemant Garg told the Dayton Daily News. “We are grateful and humbled by it. This recognition is due to the love, support, generosity of the Dayton community, Washington Twp. staff and the trustees.”

To raise funds for the playgrounds, the Gargs in 2007 began organizing a series of Bollywood Galas. The annual galas attract hundreds of people and have included performances by renowned entertainers from the Bollywood film industry in Mumbai, India, and also respected local artists.

The Gargs direct all aspects of the three-hour galas, from booking acts to designing graphics, renting equipment, and coordinating audio visuals.

“We wanted to relate Yukta’s memory with happy things and what she used to love,” Arti Garg explained. “When we see kids playing, making friends, making their own sweet memories, laughing, running around, we see our daughter.”

Inspired by Yukta’s love of butterflies, the Butterfly Playground was the first to be designed and installed. It was followed by the Nature Sounds Playground that reflects her love of music and includes six large outdoor instruments.

In 2019, the preschool playground celebrated its grand opening in the Rec West building. The play space, called Yukta’s Garden, is protected from the elements, but offers an outdoor neighborhood feeling. The idea was that it would celebrate her passions and be a gift to other children in the community.

Township Recreation Director Mark Metzger said the Gargs are an inspiration to everyone.

“Because of their activism and altruism, three recreation playgrounds have been created in Yukta’s memory and reverberate with the sound of children’s laughter,” he said.

In December, the Montgomery County Township Association presented the Gargs with its Community Impact Award for the same efforts that they have displayed toward the residents in Washington Twp.

Hemant Garg said the couple’s foundation is doing fine and they continue to do their signature fundraising event annually.

“Over the years, it has raised over $51,000 and helped create three playground pods,” he said. “We will continue to raise money that will be utilized to benefit the recreational opportunities for youth in our community.”

The next annual Bollywood Gala returns on March 1.

The Citizens of the Year Awards were judged by a panel of parks and recreation professionals from around Ohio.

Gargs Are Named Citizens of the Year

Hemant & Arti Garg are OPRA Citizens of the Year – Washington Township – Feb 1, 2020

Posted on 02/01/2020

Hemant and Arti Garg Are Recognized as Citizens of the Year

In 2006, Hemant and Arti Garg received the worst news a parent can: That their six-year-old daughter, Yukta, had been killed in a car crash as she was leaving the Washington Township Recreation Center after a day at summer camp.

In the 13 years since, the Gargs have transformed their grief into action, founding the Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation to support community efforts that benefit and support the interests of local children. Their fundraising has made it possible to establish three separate playgrounds on the township’s recreation campus.

For their efforts, Hemant and Arti Garg have been recognized as Citizens of the Year by the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association. “Because of their activism and altruism, three recreation center playgrounds reverberate with the sound of children’s laughter, mirroring Yukta’s vivacious spirit,” said Recreation Director Mark Metzger.

“We wanted to relate Yukta’s memory with happy things and what she used to love,” explains Arti Garg. “When we see kids playing, making friends, making their own sweet memories, laughing, running around, we see our daughter, Yukta.”

Inspired by Yukta’s love of butterflies, the Butterfly Playground was the first to be designed and installed. It was followed by the Nature Sounds Playground that reflects her love of music and includes six large outdoor instruments.

In 2019, the preschool playground celebrated its grand opening in the Rec West building. The play space is protected from the elements, but offers an outdoor neighborhood feeling, said Metzger. “The idea was that it would celebrate Yukta’s passions and be a gift to other children in our community from Yukta herself.”

Over the years, the Gargs have organized a series of concerts featuring internationally known singers and musicians from the Bollywood film industry as well as concerts featuring local talent. Together, they have raised more than $50,000 for the playgrounds.

“They are so inspirational to me and to many people in the community,” said Linda Madden, retired recreation supervisor who worked with the Gargs on the outdoor projects. “From their efforts, these beautiful play spaces have been created, designed in their daughter’s memory, and are well utilized today within the community.”

Best of Bollywood – Washington Township Quarterly, Spring 2019, Feb-Apr, Vol. 30, No. 1

An afternoon of culture returns! WT Recreation and the Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation invite you to spend an afternoon enjoying the music of Bollywood as performed by area talent. The free event, with complementary snacks, takes place at the Rec West Auditorium, 965 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd. All proceeds benefit recreational opportunities for youth offered by WT Recreation. Recent projects include the indoor playhouse for preschoolers at Rec West which will be open to the public on this day. Have fun on our new playhouse and enjoy some live entertainment.

Yukta Garg Foundation donates $10K – The Centerville Dispatch, Thursday, April 5, 2018

For Hemant and Arti Garg, it was an easy decision to give back to Washington Township on the night of Monday, April 2.

Their donation of $10000 through their foundation named after their late daughter, Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation, was the latest in a long series of acts meant to show gratitude to the community for its support over the years.

Only a month ago, the Gargs raised $10,000 for the township with their Bollywood Gala and at Monday’s Board of Trustees meeting, they delivered a new check for the same amount.

Following a short speech, the Gargs spoke about what it meant to be so connected to the community.

“We got tremendous love and support from the entire community here,” said Arti. “Strangers would walk in and just give us a hug. So the kind of love we got, we wanted to give it back to the community. We wanted to remember the community that has stood with us for all time.”

As for what the Gargs hope the money goes to, they know that it is somewhat small relative to the cost of projects like the Butterfly Playground (named in honor of Yukta’s love of butterflies), which opened in 2013 and cost more than $150,000 total. But they also know that the commitment that helped build the parks and their results are what matter most.

Hemant said, “It’s more than monetary, it’s more involvement of the community to come together and help out the township in whichever way they can.”

As for the Butterfly Playground, Arti expressed great joy in her speech about what the park has become, saying, “It has become a place where relationships are formed, friendships are made and a place where the entire community come together to enjoy.”

She closed her speech saying, “At times when our own light goes out, it is rekindled by a spark from another person.”

Outdoor Musical Instruements Added to Butterfly Playground – Washington Township Quarterly, Fall 2014, Aug – Nov, Volume 25, 3

New Butterfly Playground Offers Fun and Creativity

A new Butterfly Playground that expands creative play opportunities for children is open at Washington Township’s Countryside Park,

895 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd.

The Butterfly Playground’s dedication ceremony took place at the annual Halloween Howl where children had opportunity to experience the first two areas of the playground – Nature Sounds and Butterfly Meadow. Nature Sounds offers a music and theater space for creative play, while Butterfly Meadow offers a place to climb and play. Both are handicapped accessible.

“This is the first playground in our community to offer this type of physical and creative play. The outdoor musical play space is the only one of its kind in the Miami Valley,” said Dave Paice, recreation facilities director. The first two phases include:

Nature Sounds Area –

A stage provides the focal point and is surrounded by three large, outdoor musical pieces — including a grouping of five hand drums, a metalophone, and chimes that are 9-feet tall. Concrete seating offers a place for parents and others to enjoy the show. Nature Sounds is located behind the Rec Center.

Butterfly Meadow Area –

A spider-web like structure offers a place for kids five and older to climb and play, while lady bugs provide smaller climbing opportunities. A nearby toddler area includes a bridge, slide, steps for climbing, and springy poles to stand on and practice balancing skills. Both sections are decorated with butterflies and located near the park’s A-frame shelter.

Community Support

The playground concept was approved as part of a 2002 master plan for Countryside Park. After approving the plan, Washington Township Trustees pledged $50,000 in matching seed money. Since then, an additional $202,000 has been raised through grants and donations, including $32,000 from Arti and Hement Garg to honor the memory of their daughter, Yukta, an avid Recreation Center user and butterfly lover who died in an auto accident near the recreation center. To raise funds, the Gargs organized a series of benefit concerts featuring internationally-known singers and musicians from the Bollywood film industry in Mumbai, India.

“The Gargs have been incredible partners in establishing a financial base for a playground. They’ve brought tremendous organization, creativity and passion to their fundraising,” said Senior Recreation Supervisor Linda Madden, who oversees the project.

Playground Design

The play areas were developed by local landscape architect Eric Sauer who donated his time and enlisted the help of young recreation center users. Campers and Rec’ing Crew members expanded upon the butterfly theme inspired by Yukta, offered their interpretations, and sketched out their ideas.

“Many people have helped make the Butterfly Playground a reality,” said Madden. “Scouts have devoted considerable time and effort.” About 200 Girl Scouts helped plant two new gardens next to the Butterfly Meadow area and Boy Scouts have constructed seating, made butterfly houses, installed benches, and planted a butterfly-shaped garden.

The Next Stage

More funding will be needed to complete all five phases of the playground, including a Natural History Play Area where kids can dig for oversize fossils and learn about local geology; a Woodland Play Area that offers playful opportunities to learn about native animals and insects; and a Pond & Stream Play Area where children can learn about local pond and stream environments.

“The plan calls for play areas scattered throughout the park. We hope that children someday can walk the entire one-mile path and have fun at different play stations throughout,” Madden said.

Butterfly Playground Open for Play – In News

Butterfly Playground Opened Saturday, Oct 26

Dayton Daily News

Sunday, Oct 27, 2013

Rohin Jain (left) and Mark Walczak play on the new Butterfly Playground at Countryside Park in Washington Twp. on Saturday after a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting.

By STAFF STAFF

Washington Twp. —

The Butterfly Playground, a facility designed to expand creative play opportunities for children, will open at 5 p.m. Sept. 20 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Countryside Park, 895 Miamisburg-Centerville Road.

Children will then be able to enter the Nature Sounds and Butterfly Meadow areas of the playground. Both are handicapped accessible.

The concept was approved as part of a 2002 master plan for Countryside Park. Washington Twp. Trustees pledged $50,000 in matching seed money. An additional $202,000 has been raised through grants and donations, including $32,000 from Arti and Hemant Garg to honor the memory of their daughter, Yukta.

More funds will be needed to complete all five phases. For more information, contact Linda Madden at (937) 432-2820. TERRY MORRIS

YGMF participates in Kroger Community Rewards Program

The Kroger Community Rewards Program provides financial support to Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation based on the money spent at Kroger stores by members enrolled in the program. By linking your Kroger Plus card and shopping at Kroger, you raise funds for YGMF, while continuing to earn your own Kroger Plus points and rewards!

Time to Re-enroll or Sign up for Kroger’s

Community Rewards Program

Thank-you for linking your Kroger Plus card and shopping at Kroger to help raise funds for YGMF during 2014-2015. The 2015-2016 Kroger Community Rewards Program begins May 1, 2015 and enrollment officially opened April 1, 2015. All supporters of YGMF who registered prior to April 1, 2015 must re-enroll online to continue supporting our organization by April 30, 2015.

Re-enrolling only takes a few moments and is completed in a few simple steps. To re-enroll:

1. Visit the website

www.krogercommunityrewards.com

.

2. Sign in using your email address and password. If you have forgotten your password, just click on “forgot password” and a link will be sent to your email to change your password.

3.

Enter our NPO number: 82806

,

or Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation

and click search.

4. Select our organization by clicking on the circle to the left of organization’s name.

5. Save changes.

Thank you for your continued support.

Do you already have an online Kroger Plus Card account? Visit the website

www.krogercommunityrewards.com

, click on “enroll” and follow the instructions to designate us as the beneficiary. Thank you!

TO JOIN THE KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS PROGRAM:

• Have your Kroger Plus card handy

• If you do not yet have a Kroger Plus Card, they are available at the customer service desk at any Kroger.

• Register your Kroger Plus card online at the website

www.krogercommunityrewards.com

:

• Click on “Enroll”. Follow the steps to create an account and link it to your Kroger Plus Card number.

•

Enter our NPO number: 82806

,

or Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation

and click on confirm.

• Members must swipe their registered Kroger Plus card or use the phone number that is related to their registered Kroger Plus card when shopping for each purchase to count.

• Do you use your phone number at the register? Call 877-576-7587 to get your Kroger Plus Card number.

• If you do not have internet access, please call 1-800-621-7042 and a letter will be mailed to you with a barcode you can use at the store.

Construction Begins on the Butterfly Playground – Washington Township Quarterly, Spring 2012, February – April, Volume 23, No.1

Butterfly Playground Receives Grant – Washington Township Quarterly, Spring 2012, February – April, Volume 23, No.1

Butterfly Playground Takes the Next Step – Washington Township Quarterly, Winter 2012, December – March, Volume 22, No. 4

Read the full newsletter (PDF).

Donations and Grants Will Help Establish Butterfly Playground in Countryside Park – Washington Township Quarterly, Fall 2010, August – November, Volume 21, No. 3

Read the full newsletter (PDF).

Butterflies and Bollywood team up for a playground at Countryside Park

Centerville-Washington Township Times, Thursday, July 8 2010

A proposed Butterfly Playground at Countryside Park, next to the Washington Township Recreation Center, took a large step forward in June with the influx of $57,000 in donations and grant money. Township trustees were presented with a $21,000 check at a June 27 fundraiser featuring internationally-known singers and musicians from the Bollywood film industry in Mumbai, India.

The donation was presented by Arti and Hemant Garg of Washington Township who organized a series of four concerts to honor the memory of their daughter, Yukta, and to support the township in its efforts to build a playground. In making the presentation at Centerville High School, the Gargs indicated they will continue to raise funds through concerts sponsored by the Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation.

Since approving a 2002 master plan for the park, the township has hped to establish a handicapped-accessible playground to expand creative play opportunities for children. Township trustees pledged $50,000 in matching seed money, with the remainder to be raised through grants and donations.

“The Gargs have been incredible partners in establishing a financial base for a playground.” said Senior Recreation Supervisor Linda Madden, who oversees the project. “They’ve brought a tremendous amount of organization, creativity and passion to their fundraising.”

Also in June, the township received a $36,000 Community Development Block Grant from Montgomery County. The grant will pay for handicapped accessibility at the park, including development of a driveway, side-walks and playground pads.

Funding now stands at close to $109,000, still short of the initial goal to start construction.

“The township is offering a plan, a location, and a financial base to build upon, but how and when the playground takes shape will depend upon grants and donations from the local community.” said Dave Paice, recreation facilities director.

A playground plan developed last summer by landscape architects from Envision-Works includes various play areas scattered throughout the park.

“Different playground concepts are located in different areas. The hope is children can walk the entire one-mile path and have fun at different play stations throughout.” Madden said.

The butterfly theme was inspired by Yukta Garg, 6, an avid Recreation Center user and butterfly lover who died in a 2006 auto accident near the recreation center. The activity areas were inspired by her interests that also are shared by many children her age. The township is looking first at these areas for development:

Nature Sounds Area – A music and theater space for creative play. A stage provides the focal point for the area and will be surrounded by four to six outdoor musical pieces, including chimes, drums and xylophones.

Butterfly Meadow Playground Area – A place to climb and play on a spider-web like structure, sheltered from the sun by giant flower umbrellas. Large bugs provide smaller climbing opportunities and educational display boards offer the chance to learn about the life cycles of meadow insects. The Butterfly Meadow will be near the park’s A-frame shelter and adjacent to a butterfly garden that was established with the help of two local boy scouts.

“A new playground will enhance our summer park activities and provide year-round community play space,” Paice said. Depending upon funding, the playground could potentially grow over the long term to include themed play areas for natural history, wood-lands, and ponds and streams.

Play areas were developed last year after Envision-Works volunteered to meet with kids attending recreation summer programs. Campers and Rec’ing Crew members expanded upon the butterfly theme, offered their interpretations, and sketched out their ideas.

Playground gets fundraising push

By Jill Kelley, Staff Writer

Dayton Daily News

2:47 PM Thursday, July 8, 2010

WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County — In June, the Washington Twp. trustees accepted two checks totaling $57,000 for the proposed Butterfly Playground at Countryside Park, next to the Washington Twp. Recreation Center.

The playground is being built in memory of 6-year-old Yukta Garg, who was killed in an auto accident near the rec center in 2006.

In June, Yukta’s parents, Arti and Hemant Garg, donated $21,000 toward the effort.

The funds were raised through concerts held at Centerville Schools Performing Arts Center, featuring internationally known singers and musicians from the Bollywood film industry in Mumbai, India.

According to township Finance Director Mike Barlow, this is the largest direct donation to the township in at least 25 years.

The Gargs said they will continue to raise funds through concerts sponsored by the Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation.

Also in June, the township received a $36,000 Community Development Block Grant from Montgomery County, which will pay for handicapped accessibility at the park.

Since approving a 2002 master plan for the park, the township has planned to establish a handicapped-accessible playground.

Trustees pledged $50,000 in matching seed money, with the remainder to be raised through grants and donations.

Funding now stands at close to $109,000, short of the initial goal of $250,000 to start construction.

“The township is offering a plan, a location, and a financial base to build upon, but how and when the playground takes shape will depend upon grants and donations from the local community,” said Dave Paice, recreation facilities director.

Event honors girl who loved butterflies

Dayton Daily News, June 30, 2010

ABOVE: Laasya Kunam, 5, swings at a pinata Friday, June 25, at the Washington Twp. Recreation Center at the annual Butterfly Celebration. The event celebrates the start of summer and the life of Yukta Garg, a 6-year-old girl who was killed in a car accident in front of the center in July 2006. In her honor, the family and others are working to build a playground at Countryside Park, behind the rec center. Recreation Supervisor Linda Madden said Yukta loved butterflies and two butterfly pods will be part of the playground. The rec center and the Garg family are raising funds for the pods.

ABOVE: Allie Scott, 3, and Navya Garg, 2, climb on playground equipment at Countryside Park during the event.

Ancient Star Quilt Winner – Pam Hagwood

Washington Township Quarterly, Spring 2010, March-May , Volume 21, No. 1

Sybil Latham, Township resident and Rec Center employee donated a handmade Ancient Star Quilt as a raffle prize for the Butterfly Playground Project fundraiser. Tickets were sold throughout the month of December during Woodland Lights and the drawing was held on the last night of the event.

Hemant and Ishita Garg drew the winning ticket held by Pam Hagwood, also a Township resident. Congratulations to Pan and a big thanks to Sybil who’s generous donation raised $500 for the playground.

Butterfly Playground Updates – Washington Township Quarterly, Winter 2010, Dec – Feb 20, Volume 20 No. 4

Read the full newsletter (PDF).

Butterfly Playground Donor Card

You may print and return this donor card with your tax-free donation.

Butterfly Playground Graphic Design Contest

Washington Township Quarterly, Fall 2009, August-November, Volume 20, No. 3

Calling Artists of All Ages… get your cryons, markers, paints, pastels or computer self-generated art ready to create a butterfly design, that if chosen as the winner of the Butterfly Playground Graphic Design Contest, will be the symbol of Washington Township Recreation Center’s new Butterfly Playground. There will be three divisions: Youth -12 and under, Teen – 13 – 19 years and Adult – 18 and older. The design winners from all three divisions will be utilized on printed material, T-shirts and be incorporated into the playground’s entrance, but the Grand Prize, Overall Winner, will be the predominant Graphic Design used.

Rules and Guidelines will on the website

www.washingtontwp.org

. Entries will be accepted through the November 1 deadline.

Kids Help Landscape Architects Plan a Park – Washington Township Quarterly, Fall 2009, August – Nov, Volume 20 No. 3

Read the full newsletter (PDF).

Butterfly Playground Project

Washington Township Quarterly, Spring 2009, March-May, Volume 20, No. 1

As most residents of this community are aware, during the summer of 2006, a six-year-old girl, who was an active Recreation Center member, was tragically killed in a car accident in front of the Recreation Center at the conclusion of the camp day. As a tribute to Yukta Garg and all young children in our community, the Township has decided to begin the playground redesign/renovation included in the park’s master plan of 2004.

The Township has entered into a verbal agreement with Yukta’s parents, which states that the Trustees will allocate $50,000 for the project. The Garg family has hosted concerts and has been accepting donations to match the funds the Township has allotted. The Recreation Center staff will be seeking grants and public donations to assist with the completion of this project. The total anticipated cost of the Butterfly Playground has been tentatively set at $300,000.

The play space in the park is currently utilized by many groups. Two hundred and fifty children use it weekly during the ten weeks of the summer camp program. It is also used by all the Rec Center preschool programs, the seventy-five children in the after school program, the hundreds of children who watch their siblings during the Saturday youth sports programs, the thousands of children who attend Woodland Lights, and by an unknown number of township families who use the space in their personal time annually. This new playground will benefit thousands of children who frequent Washington Township’s Countryside Park.

The goal for this playground is to be different in design from those already in our area, by blending with the natural setting of the Countryside Park. Its butterfly-shaped surface is ADA accessible and will include both creative performing arts spaces and physical challenges for all ages.

Bollywood Stars

Go! Section

Dayton Daily News

May 2, 2008

Bollywood stars Udit & Aditya Narayan – and a host of others – are coming to Centerville High School for a performance at 6 pm Sunday, May 4, raising funds for a memorial playground at the Washington Twp. Rec. Center. The performing troupe, currently on a two-month tour of the US and Canada, includes actress Priti Jhangiani, Aditi Paul from the TV show “Indian Idol”, and Saundarya Garg. Tickets for the concert are $35, $55 and $75, available at Amar India Restaurant,(937) 439-9005; SriG Grocers, (937) 439-4090; Mirch Masala, (937) 435-2086; and online at

www.ygmf.org

.

Staff Reporter

Centerville-Bellbrook Times

April 30, 2008

The Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation is bringing Udit & Aditya Narayan – Live in Concert on Sunday, May 4 at 6 pm at the newly built Centerville High School auditorium.

The fund-raiser event is the second in the series that will benefit the playground at the Washington Township Recreation Center.

Hemant Garg, Founder Trustee of the memorial foundation, said that the goal is to generate $50,000 to match with the same amount set aside by Washington Township for the playground. He said that Washington Township authorities will share the plans for the playground at the May 4 concert.

Udit & Aditya Narayan are well-known singers in Hindi-language “Bollywood” film industry. Udit Narayan has won five Filmfare Awards, the Bollywood equivalent of the Oscar. His son Aditya Narayan, has also established himself as the voice of the child artists in Hindi movies and acted as child artist in several hit movies like Pardes, Rangeela and Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai.

Udit Narayan has been associated with the extremely popular reality TV show – “Indian Idol” as one of the three judges. Aditya also has hosted the equally popular show Sa Re Ga Ma Challenge 2007.

Movie actress Priti Jhangiani is also part of the troupe and will perform live on sensational dance numbers. The other notable artist in the troupe is Aditi Paul from the TV show Indian Idol. The show will be anchored by the popular model – Saundarya Garg. The troupe also comprise of 25 musicians and dancers from Mumbai. The group is on a two-month tour to the US and Canada performing in major cities like Toronto, San Fransisco, New Jersey, Orlando, Miami, Chicago etc.

The ticket prices for the concert are $35 to $75. They may be purchased at Amar India Restaurant (439-9005); SriG Grocers (439-4090); Mirch Masala (435-2086) and you can buy them online at

http://www.ygmf.org

.

Event will raise money for a playground in honor of a 6-year-old Washington Twp. girl who was killed in 2006.

By Katherine Ullmer

Staff Writer

Dayton Daily News

Thursday, April 24, 2008

The Narayans will perform in the May 4 benefit concert in the Performing Arts Center at

Centerville High School. The fundraiser is to build a playground at the Washington Twp.

Rec Center in memory of Yukta Garg, the 6-year-old Washington Twp. girl killed in an auto

accident near the rec center in 2006. The Narayans are (from left): Udit Narayan; his son

Aditya Narayan; and Udit’s wife, Deepa Narayan, all accomplished singers.

CENTERVILLE — Udit and Aditya Narayan, two big names in the Hindi-language Bollywood film industry, will be performing live in concert at 6 p.m. May 4 in the new Performing Arts Center at Centerville High School, 500 E. Franklin St.

The father-son singing duo will be accompanied by movie actress Priti Jhangiani, who will perform dance numbers on stage.

The show, which includes Aditi Paul from the reality TV show “Indian Idol,” will be anchored by model Saundarya Garg.

Twenty-five musicians and dancers from Mumbai are also in the group, which is on a two-month tour to the U.S. and Canada, performing in Toronto, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago, etc.

Actress and Indian dancer

Priti Jhangiani will perform

with the Narayans for the

Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation,

a non-profit organization, on May 4

to help raise funds for the playground

at the Washington Twp. Recreation Center

.

The concert is a fundraiser to help build a playground at the Washington Twp. Recreation Center in memory of Yukta Garg, the 6-year-old Washington Twp. girl killed in an auto accident near the center in 2006.

The Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation is sponsoring the troupe’s visit, in cooperation with the India Club of Greater Dayton.

Yukta’s father, Hemant Garg, founder/trustee of the memorial foundation, said the goal of the foundation is to generate $50,000 to match the same amount set aside by the township for the playground through a series of fundraising activities.

The May 4 concert is the second such fundraising event. The foundation held a similar concert in July.

At the May 4 concert, township officials will provide an update and share plans for the playground, Garg said.

Ticket prices for the concert are $35, $55, $75. They may be purchased at Amar India Restaurant (call 937-439-9005); SriG Grocers (937-439-4090); Mirch Masala (937-435-2086) and online at www.ygmf.org.

You also will find videos there of the late Yukta Garg, a gifted young dancer, in dance performances.

Tree dedicated to girl killed in traffic – Dayton Daily News (11.26.06)

WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County – Washington Twp. dedicated a memorial oak tree Wednesday in honor of Yukta Garg, the 6-year-old girl killed in a traffic accident last summer in front of the Washington Twp. Recreation Center.

The oak tree is near the site of a playground that will be constructed in her honor.

Her parents, Hemant and Arti Garg, are seeking donations for the playground through an account set up in her name. For information, visit

www.ygmf.org

.

Donations also can be mailed to The Yukta Garg Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 750081, Dayton, OH 45475.

By Katherine Ullmer

Staff Writer

WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County — The parents of Yukta Garg, the 6-year-old girl who died in an auto accident in front of the Washington Twp. Recreation Center on July 26, plan to honor her memory with a memorial oak tree and a playground constructed in her honor.

The public is invited to the dedication ceremony of the oak at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the A-frame shelter in Countryside Park, adjacent to the rec center, 895 Washington-Centerville Road.

Hemant and Arti Garg, Yukta’s parents, are seeking donations for the playground through an account set up in their daughter’s name at US Bank locations. The size, equipment and layout will be determined when donations are combined with $50,000 seed money from the township, said Linda Madden, senior recreation supervisor.

“We’re hoping the community will match the seed money in donations,” she said.

The park’s master plan designates the grassy area east of the A-frame shelter as an expanded play area. With Garg’s death, the township trustees made funding available earlier than planned, Madden said.

Yukta Garg attended summer camp programs at the park. “She was a very gifted kid. This will definitely keep her associated with the place,” said Hemant Garg.

“Yukta’s laughter and smile were infectious,” Madden said.

Yukta liked music and to be theatrical, so parts of the playground will have creative play spaces, with a music area with a rain stick or drum-type things, and a stage area, she said. With the playground, “Yukta will continue to bring joy to other children though she no longer is present,” she said.

The playground will be open to the public for free, Madden said.

For more information, go to the Internet Web site:

www.ygmf.org

. Donations may be mailed to: The Yukta Garg Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 750081, Dayton, OH, 45475-0081.

By Staff reporter

CLAYTON — As a tribute to Yukta Garg, the 6-year-old girl who died in a July crash near the Washington Twp. Recreation Center, the India Club of Greater Dayton will introduce the Yukta Garg New Talent Awards in her memory at the club’s Diwali (festival of lights/celebration of life/beginning of the Hindu year) event Nov. 18.

The awards will be given annually to children up to age 6 performing for the first time on stage for the club. This year’s event will be at Northmont High School, 4916 National Road. Eleven children will receive awards. Each year about 1,200 people attend the dinner and cultural show, according to Hemant Garg, Yukta Garg’s father and club president-elect.

The free cultural event begins at 7 p.m. There is a $10 non-member cost for the 5 p.m. dinner. Dinner tickets can be purchased at the Mall of India, 2750 N. Fairfield Road; Mirch Masala, 984 Miamisburg-Centerville Road; or Flavors of India, 4817 Airway Road.

Township girl to be honored –

Centerville Bellbrook Times (11.08.06)

The community is invited Wednesday, November 15 to join in honoring Yukta Garg, the six-year-old girl who died in a traffic accident last summer in front of the Washington Township Recreation Center on St. Rt. 725.

Washington Township will dedicate a memorial oak tree near the site of a playground that will be constructed in her honor. The dedication ceremony takes place at 3:30 p.m. at the A-frame shelter in Countryside Park, located adjacent to the recreation center.

Yukta’s parents are seeking donations for the park through an account set-up in their daughter’s name. Yukta was an active member at the recreation center and spent many hours during her summers in the camp program.

For information about Yukta Garg and donations for the playground, go to: www.yuktagarg.net and click on Memorial Fund. Donations may be mailed to: The Yukta Garg Memorial Fund, PO Box 750081, Dayton, OH, 45475

By Katherine Ullmer

Staff Writer

WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County – The father of a 6-year-old killed this summer in a traffic accident is pleased state officials responded to an online petition.

Friday, state Department of Transportation officials met with the father of Yukta Garg to say changes were coming to Ohio 725 and Garnet Drive intersection where she died July 26.

Hemant Garg launched an online petition drive to get a traffic light, reduced speed – currently 45 mph – and/or other improvements at the site.

He handed over Sept. 1 petitions with 1,817 signatures to the Transportation Department.

“I think the people’s voice was heard,” he said Friday.

The improvements, which are to begin Tuesday, will include a right turn only lane at Garnet Drive and at the Ohio 725 entrance to the Washington Twp. Recreation Center.

The turn lanes will be set off by 6-ice high, reflective rubberized barrier.

Garg said the improvements should prevent through traffic between Garnet Drive and the rec center entrance. His daughter was killed when the car she was in traveled across the four-lane Ohio 725 from Garnet towards the entrance of the rec center and was hit by an oncoming westbound car.

Adding a traffic light to the intersection was not viable, according to Joyce Renner, a Transportation Department spokeswoman. “It would probably make things worse on Ohio 725.”

View the petition signatures Hemant Garg collected in the weeks after the crash (names redacted for privacy).

Township will seek to add new traffic lights –

Centerville Bellbrook Times (09.06.06)

By Jim Good

Times Staff Writer

A recent traffic fatality in Washington Township has prompted renewed efforts to get a traffic light installed at Miamisburg-Centerville Road and Garnet Drive.

After the automobile death of a six-year-old girl on July 26 at the intersection of Miamisburg-Centerville road/Garnet Drive, township officials are once again petitioning the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) to allow the township to place a traffic light at that dangerous intersection, said Tom Toberen, deputy administrator. The township has petitioned ODOT, the department that has the final say, to get a traffic light placed there as far back as 1989.

Toberen said that in 1989, the township sent a letter to ODOT requesting that a study be done to see if a traffic light was warranted at that intersection. ODOT responded back in 1990 that they were too busy to undertake that study, but that the township could hire someone to do the study.

That same year, the township hired Richard Oaks, a local engineer who worked with ODOT on the timing system at the traffic lights at Miamisburg-Centerville Road and McEwen Road. Oaks determined that a traffic light in fornt of the recreation center met ODOT’s requirements for a traffic-light placement.

In 1992, ODOT decided to do its own study and determined that a Miamisburg-Centerville road/Garnet Drive traffic light. That request was once again turned down.

Presently, Toberen said the township wants to hire oaks again to do another study, this time concerning, among others, traffic counts and signal-timing, to once again be submitted to ODOT.

Another dangerous intersection in need of a traffic light is at McEwen Road and Congress Park Drive. Toberen said the township received a grant for approximately $70,000 through the State of Ohio for such a purpose. the township will use that grant and pay approximately $20,000 to $30,000 out of township funds to place a traffic light there. An engineer will be hired to design the traffic light. Construction will begin some time next year.

Two other areas in the township that are scheduled to get traffic lights are the intersections of Normandy Lane and Spring Valley Pike and Atchison Road and Spring Valley Pike.

The traffic lights at Normandy Lane/Spring Valley Pike are already installed and should be operational soon. The lights at Atchison Road/Spring Valley Pike will be built once an agreement between the city of Centerville, Washington Township and Montgomery County comes to terms over maintenance issues and costs. Toberen said plans are being finalized now, bids will be taken this fall and that construction will begin the first half of next year.

Toberen said the township now installs mast-arm poles as opposed to the wire-to-pole construction on former traffic lights. The mast-arm poles consist of a main pole with another pole up top that juts out at a perpendicular angle while holding the light signals directly to the pole. this type of traffic light design is recommended in the township’s street enhancement guidelines.

Engineers to design safety improvements at crash site – Dayton Daily News (08.18.06)

WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County – The township plans to hire a traffic engineer to perform a traffic count and design safety improvements for the intersection in front of the township recreation center where 6-year-old Yuka Garg was killed in a traffic crash July 26, the township administrator said.

Gary Huff said township officials want to try to find the safest improvement and then “approach the state about completing that. We want to look at the intersection and do it properly, realistically and beneficially.”

By mid-afternoon Thursday, Yukta’s parents, Hemant and Arti Garg, had gathered 933 signatures on an online petition they set up at

www.ygmf.org

to help pressure the Ohio Department of Transportation to improve the intersection with a traffic light, lower speed and/or other safety measures.

Carol Kennard, director, of the Centerville-Washington Park District, was one of the signers Thursday.

Yukta was killed as the driver of the car she was in tried to cross four lanes of traffic to get to the Washington Twp. Recreation Center form Garnet Drive at Ohio 725.

By Katherine Ullmer

Staff Writer

WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County – Hemant and Arti Garg, whose 6-year-old daughter, Yukta, was killed in a traffic crash July 26 on Ohio 725 at Garnet Drive, are using an online petition to keep others from losing their loved ones.

The Web site,

www.ygmf.org

, is seeking signatures to pressure the Ohio Department of Transportation to install a traffic light and reduce the speed limit to 35 mph. As of Tuesday evening, 292 people had signed.

Yukta was killed as the driver of the car she was in tried to cross four lanes of traffic to get to the Washington Twp. Recreation Center.

The Web site includes a letter expressing her parents’ pain at being called to the scene of the crash. The site also shows a series of photos of their daughter and family in happier times. More than 500 people attended their daughter’s funeral July 28, Hemant Garg said.

Garg said he also wants to take out the cut-through in the median so no one can try to cross Ohio 725. “By doing something maybe we can prevent or reduce the number of fatalities or injuries in the future,” he said.

Washington Twp. Trustee Lee Snyder said the trustees have written ODOT. “We’re not giving up on it,” Snyder said. The trustees are also looking into moving the rec center entrance.

“The idea is to support Lee Snyder’s case to ODOT,” Garg said. “It will make his case stronger.”

Petition signs are pleading for action.

“Please consider this petition for the future safety of others and a dedication to Yukta Garg,” said a petition signer Cindy Niekamp.

“Please put a light in so that no other family has to suffer the loss of a child or other family member,” said signer Melissa Moody.

His daughter’s loss ” has been very hard on the family,” Garg said. “It should not happen to anybody else in the future.”

By Jodi Brock

Times Editor

A six-year-old girl from Washington Township was killed after the car she was riding in was t-boned by another car on Miamisburg-Centerville Road (SR 725) at Garnet Drive in the afternoon of Wednesday, July 26, according to Captain Dee Osterfeld of the Washington Township substation of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

The victim, Yukta Garg, was riding in the back seat of a forest green Honda, said Osterfeld. The driver of the Honda was attempting to head north bound on Garnet Drive and cross four lanes of traffic on 725, said Osterfeld, when the Honda was struck by a silver Chevrolet Aveo heading westbound on 725.

There are no stop lights at Garnet Drive, so the driver of th Honda would have had to yield to traffic on 725.

Several police and fire crews responded to the crash at 4:08 p.m. According to Osterfeld, four people from Honda and two from the Aveo were hospitalized for non-life threatening injuries sustained from the crash.

Osterfeld noted that the crash closed westbound lanes of 725 for about 3-4 hours.

Charges are being reviewed by the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office, said Osterfeld. No names of the others involved in the crash were released as the incident is still under investigation.

By Katherine Ullmer

Staff Writer

WASHINGTON TWP., Montgomery County – Following a two-car crash that left a -year-old Washington Twp. girl dead Wednesday, Washington Twp. will ask the Ohio Department of Transportation to take another look at placing a traffic signal at Garnet Drive and Ohio 725.

Yukta Gar was killed Wednesday afternoon when the car in which she was a passenger attempted to cross four lanes of traffic to get to the Washington Twp. Recreation Center and was broadsided by a westbound vehicle.

Six other people were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries and have since been treated and released, said Police Capt. Dee Osterfeld of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Washington Twp. substation. The names of the drivers and other involved in the accident have not been released, pending further investigation, Osterfeld said.

Mike Wannamaker, Washington Twp. public works manager, said Thursday he will contact ODOT to “let them know we have some residential concerns. It’s a very unfortunate situation.”

The township was turned down by ODOT several years ago when it asked to have a traffic signal at Garnet Drive, he said, because it couldn’t show enough need, even though residents complained about how difficult it is turning left from Garnet onto Ohio 725 during heavy traffic.

“That’s always been a bone of contention because of traffic crossing that double lane of highway,” said Washington Twp. Trustee Lee Snyder.

Snyder said trustees couldn’t get the state to put a traffic light at Social Row Road until someone got killed there several years ago, he said. “I believe this is going to trigger it ( a traffic light).”

Officials put in an easement-like private drive from Garnet Drive to McEwen Road several years ago to allow traffic on Garnet to go west to McEwen and make safer left turns onto Ohio 725 at a traffic light, but some residents still use Garnet Drive, Wanamaker said.

The state said every intersection can’t have a signal, “but I think it’s up to me as public works manager to have some discussion with the traffic engineer at ODOT and go on record that our residents are concerned.”

Wannamaker also said the nre Rec West site gives an access to McEwen Road, increasing safety.

Osterfeld said Garg and two other children, ages 4 and 7, were in the back seat of a Honda driven by a 32-year-old Washington Twp. woman. At 4:05 pm Wednesday, the driver tried to cross four lanes of traffic and pulled into the path of a westbound car driven by an 18-year-old Springboro woman. Garg was dead at the scene.

Everyone in the two vehicles was wearing seat belts, Ostereld said. The accident will be reviewed with the prosecutor’s office to see if any charges should be filed.

6-year-old dies, six others injured in crash on Ohio 725 – Dayton Daily News (07.27.06)

WASHINGTON TWP. Montgomery County – Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies responded to an automobile crash that killed a 6-year-old girl and sent six other people to area hospitals.

The sheriff’s office said a car attempting to travel north on Ohio 725 at Garnet Road collided with a car traveling west in Washington Twp.

The crash occurred about 4:05 pm Wednesday.

No names were released Wednesday, pending notification of family members and further investigation.