Township officials pose at the groundbreaking ceremony for an inclusive playground for children of all abilities at Evesboro Downs Park.
Evesham council held an official groundbreaking earlier this month for a new and completely inclusive playground at Evesboro Downs Park.
Supported by a $731,000 New Jersey Green Acres grant, the 12,000-square-foot play area is designed for children of all abilities. In 2018, former Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation creating Jake’s Law, which offers incentives to build all-inclusive playgrounds for children and adults.
The law is named for Jacob Cummings-Nasto, who died at 2 years old in 2007 from complications of heart surgery. It is estimated that about 100 all-inclusive playgrounds are built or in the works across New Jersey as a result of the measure. The township announced in 2024 that it was awarded a $731,000 state grant to build the Evesham facility.
The playground features a wheelchair-accessible two-story play structure, a specialized toddler area, and sensory-rich elements such as tactile walls and a percussion play zone. Every detail promotes accessibility, from the Zero-G chair swing and inclusive seesaw, to a smooth, rubberized surfacing and expanded ADA parking.
Inspired by the original Jake’s Place in Cherry Hill, the new playground removes barriers to ensure no child is separate from their peers. Construction and installation are currently estimated to be complete by early June.
