Earlier this year, the township applied for New Jersey state funding to construct a Jake’s Law All-Inclusive Playground at Wesley Bishop Park. Jake’s Law funding is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres program.
Moorestown was awarded the Green Acres grant on April 25. Mayor Quinton Law and the Hannon family were in attendance for the announcement.
The public funding was made possible by the dedicated family, volunteers and contributors to the Jack Hannon Full Throttle Fund at the Community Foundation of South Jersey. The Hannon family spearheaded the Full Throttle Inclusive Playground project to honor their late son Jack, affectionately described as “full throttle.”
The all-inclusive playground project has been in the works since 2023, when the Full Throttle Fund completed its first project investment, the Full Throttle (Wiffle Ball) Field. When it was determined that an inclusive playground would cost more than $1 million, the fund coordinated and paid for the services of Triad Associates, a firm that specializes in securing public grant funding. Along with the township, Triad quarterbacked the application process for a New Jersey Green Acres grant.
The effort resulted in the township receiving the maximum allowable grant for inclusive playgrounds, $750,000. Another requirement of the Green Acres grant is for recipients to provide for a minimum of 25% matching funds. The Full Throttle Fund will support that requirement by recommending a $500,000 grant to the township for the inclusive playground.
The Hannon family partnered with the Community Foundation of South Jersey in 2021 to create and support the Full Throttle Fund, whose mission is to have Jack’s inspiring and loving spirit live on through charitable projects that focus on youth development and bring joy to children.
To learn more about the fund’s mission, visit www.fullthrottlefield.com. Learn about the Community Foundation of South Jersey at https://www.communityfoundationsj.org.
