Local officials and community members gathered to celebrate the May 31 groundbreaking of Jake’s Place at New Brooklyn Park, a $1.8-million project dedicated to creating an all-inclusive playground.
The site aims to be an accessible space for children of all abilities to play together.
The groundbreaking at the Winslow Township park was attended by a host of officials, among them Commissioner Deputy Director Ed McDonnell; Commissioner Jeffrey Nash; and members of the Cummings family, founders of Build Jake’s Place. Winslow Mayor Marie Lawrence, members of the township committee, and Carolyn Chaykin of the Winslow Township All-Star’s program were also on hand.
The new Jake’s Place playground will be the second all-inclusive play area in Camden County; the first was built in 2011 at John Adler Park in Cherry Hill.
“We are overjoyed to break ground on this new all-inclusive playground for the children of Winslow Township and Camden County to enjoy,” Nash said. “Every child deserves to have fun and play alongside their peers, and the impact of the original Jake’s Place has been immeasurable.
“Expanding this concept is an incredible accomplishment, and we cannot wait to welcome families to Jake’s Place at New Brooklyn Park.”
“Build Jake’s Place keeps growing and continues to raise the bar because the need for inclusion is still as strong as ever,” said its founder, Joseph Nasto.
The project is a collaborative effort between his nonprofit, the county parks department and the Office of Disabilities. The state Green Acres program allocated $1 million for the project. Construction will include a variety of features designed to accommodate all children, including those with special needs. The work will involve removing existing play areas, sections of asphalt walkways and portions of the site’s parking lot.
Other features will include rubber surfaces with underdrain systems, fencing, benches and picnic tables, synthetic surfaces for wheelchairs, wide ramps, sensory and tactile play areas, swings with molded bucket seats, a wheelchair-accessible glider and climbing equipment.
New concrete sidewalks and asphalt paths, a restroom trailer, water fountains, waste receptacles, irrigation, topsoil, seeding and landscaping will enhance the area.
Jake’s Place playgrounds are built to ensure that children of all physical abilities can play together. They are named for Nasto’s son, Jacob, who had a rare cardiac condition. After his passing, his family founded Build Jake’s Place in his memory.
