State-of-the-art, all-inclusive park comes to township

Who’s ready to play?

If you haven’t seen it yet, Anthony Iovino – founder of Finn’s Friends – announced in a social media post on Feb. 6 his partnership with Monroe to build a state-of-the-art, all-inclusive park, the Finn’s Friends Park, behind the Pfeiffer Community Center on Blue Bell Road.

“The project has been in the works for a couple months in collaboration with Mayor Greg Wolfe and his entire staff at Monroe Township, with support from town council and residents of Monroe Township,” Iovino said. “We are excited to put our foot forward with the funding and construction of this park.

“This park is not just for recreational purposes, it is essential therapy for kids affected by autism and other special needs.”

Wolfe highlighted the partnership for an all-inclusive park in his outlook of the new year.

“The park proposal is to be installed behind our Pfeiffer Community Center and could be the first park of its kind in Gloucester County,” he stated.

Finn’s Friends is an autism awareness nonprofit based in the township. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institute of Mental Health, autism affects an estimated one in 36 children in the country.

“This park is a necessity … and I commend the mayor and his staff for recognizing that,” Iovino noted.

He encouraged residents to post comments on the project to the Finn’s Friends Facebook page. More details on the park will be posted on the page in the near future, and a celebration will be held during Monroe Township Autism Awareness Day on Saturday, April 27.