Kellyanne Lytal: Playground at Cambridge Elementary Dedicated to Flood Victim

On Friday, a playground at Cambridge Elementary in the Alamo Heights Independent School District was officially dedicated to 8‑year‑old Kellyanne Lytal, who died in the July 4 Hill Country floods, school officials and family members said.

Kellyanne was among 27 girls from Camp Mystic who lost their lives in the sudden flood, according to reports. The dedication ceremony at the Alamo Heights campus drew parents, teachers and students who remembered the young girl’s time on the school playground.

“Kellyanne had so many memories on this playground,” said Malorie Lytal, Kellyanne’s mother, during the event. “We spent a ton of time here, from her learning to ride a bike for the first time, from her playing soccer and having soccer practice, coming out every day for recess, perfecting her backbend, she has a ton of memories here.”

The Lytal family said they wanted a lasting tribute. “We wanted to honor her in a special way, that her memory would last for a really long time,” Malorie Lytal added.

Kellyanne’s parents have launched the Kindness for Kellyanne foundation to channel donations and community outreach in her name, the family confirmed. School leaders said the dedication is intended both as a memorial and as a place where classmates can remember her.

The playground dedication marks a step in the community’s recovery and remembrance following the July 4 floods; the memorial is now in place and the family’s foundation is active as the wider community continues to grieve and heal.