Home Town Heroes: The Garg Family - abc22/Fox45 - April 25, 2025
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.
Township Residents Arti and Hemant Garg are Ohio Citizens of the Year - WHIOTV7 - Feb 3, 2020
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
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.
Best of Bollywood - Washington Township Quarterly, Spring 2019, Feb-Apr, Vol. 30, No. 1
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.
Outdoor Musical Instruments Added to Butterfly Playground
Outdoor Musical Instruements Added to Butterfly Playground - Washington Township Quarterly, Fall 2014, Aug - Nov, Volume 25, 3
