The township applied for state funding to construct a Jake’s Law All-Inclusive Playground at Wesley Bishop Park earlier this year.
Jake’s Law funding is administered by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Acres program. The law was passed in 2018 to encourage the construction of inclusive playgrounds designed with standards exceeding those required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. On April 25, Moorestown was awarded the Green Acres grant.
This 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, who they affectionately described as “full throttle.”
“This is something that is going to be really positive for the community,” said Moorestown Parks and Recreation Director Ron Cefalone. “This is going to be the Yankee Stadium of playgrounds.”
When it was determined that an inclusive playground would cost more than $1 million, the Full Throttle Fund coordinated and paid for the services of Triad Associates, a firm that specializes in securing public grant funding, according to the township. In collaboration with the township, the firm quarterbacked the comprehensive and competitive application process for a Green Acres grant. Their effort resulted in the township receiving the maximum allowable for inclusive playgrounds, $750,000.
Another requirement of the Green Acres grant is to provide for a minimum of 25% in matching funds. The Full Throttle Fund at the community foundation will support that requirement by recommending a $500,000 grant to the township for the Full Throttle playground.
“As you saw what the (Hannon) family was able to do with the (wiffleball field),” Cefalone said, “this is going to be something that is going to be just as amazing.”
For more information on the Full Throttle Inclusive Playground or the Jack Hannon Full Throttle Fund, visit www.fullthrottlefield.com.
Parks and rec will hold its usual summer camps – including Camp Horizon for children and young adults with special needs – throughout July, with activities that will include bowling, Jiu Jitsu classes, trips to Kaizen Martial Arts of New Jersey in Mount Laurel, bubble shows and art projects. Parks and rec will also hold weekly summer camps starting Monday, June 23, through Monday, Aug. 25.
New this year, parks and rec has partnered with the First Presbyterian Church in Moorestown to hold two music camps at the church in August. Both will take place Monday through Thursday – Aug. 18 to 21 or Aug. 25 to 28 – for three hours a day. Students will be introduced to and given lessons on piano, violin, drums or guitar by members of the West Jersey Music Academy, a nonprofit that provides high-quality music lessons to children in South Jersey.
The objective of the program is for students to explore instruments and learn how to hold them, with finger placement and playing techniques, while encouraging curiosity and exploration.
For more information, visit the programs and activities tab at www.moorestownrec.com.
