Chandler Park Playground Project
Lavallette’s Chandler Park to
be Subject of Green Acres Grant Application for 2025
The Borough of Lavallette is working with Morgan
Engineering and Ben Shaffer Recreation in applying to
the NJ Green Acres Program for Jake’s Law Playground
Funding for a new inclusive playground at Chandler Park
on 2001 Baltimore Avenue. This unique funding source is
in it’s last year of this exceptional program available
to NJ municipalities.
Q & A
What is the Jake’s Law Playground Act?
Jake’s Law was passed in 2018 to encourage the
construction of inclusive playgrounds designed with
standards exceeding those required by the Americans with
Disabilities Act. The Department of Community Affairs
adopted regulations for Jake’s Law that establish
standards for Completely Inclusive Playgrounds.
Green Acres has always funded inclusive, accessible
playgrounds through its park development grants and
loans and will continue to do so. For this last funding
round for Jake’s Law, Green Acres is incentivizing such
projects by making available 75% matching grants to
municipalities for Completely Inclusive Playgrounds.
Awards are anticipated to be between $ 500,000 -$750,000
for municipalities, subject to demand. There are also
grants for the 25% balance to municipalities who qualify
while budgets allow. If the 25% balance is not available
through the state, there is an allowance for a 0% loan
payable over 20 years. There is also a funding source
for the 25% through the local Recreation Trust,
Community Development Block Grant Funding, local
fundraising, and donations.
What makes Jake’s Law Playground Completely
Inclusive?
DCA’s regulations include a number of specific
requirements for Completely Inclusive Playgrounds, some
of which may make the project a bit more expensive than
a standard playground. The intention of these rules and
Jake’s Law is to ensure that all children have access to
playgrounds and recreational amenities, regardless of
their physical abilities or neurodiversity.
Why is the Borough of Lavallette committed to
making this application?
Although Lavallette has a variety
of playground areas in the community, none of these
playgrounds are accessible. The equipment, even those
pieces that were most recently added to the inventory
are installed on sand, a non-accessible surface for
children or adults who would like to visit these
playgrounds and enjoy them. Sand is not an accessible
surface and makes these areas unattractive to children
with special limitations and their parents or
grandparents.
The playground at Lavallette Elementary School is not
available during school hours and does not meet current
ADA and CSPC requirements for completely inclusive
playgrounds. At this writing, the school is
investigating a new more inclusive playground.
This project is proposed for Chandler Park. The
proposed improvements would be limited to the current
footprint of the current playground found there. Some of
the equipment is more than 20 years old and does not
meet current ADA or CSPC guidelines. The placement of
the swings conflicts with safety standards, the fencing
and gate is also non-compliant and there is inadequate
ADA parking, curb cuts and sidewalks to allow everyone
in the community to play together.
With special kudos to our Department of Public Works,
they work diligently to make the playground as
attractive and safe as possible. The mulch used is
designed for playground use and grows more expensive
with each year’s replacement. It has become labor
intensive as well.
The Chandler Park Playground is the best location for
this application. It is not on the waterfront, has
stable ground for the installation of safety surface
materials and is long overdue for equipment updates.
Not only would this renovation make this playground
accessible and all-inclusive for children, but also in
this aging community, a welcome place for parents and
grandparents to enjoy with their children and
grandchildren. Added shaded areas will keep equipment
cooler during the summer months and provide shade for
the children’s caregivers. These improvements would also
be safety additions to the public properties insured by
the Joint Insurance Funds as it will meet the
requirements of the Consumer Safety Product Commission,
and the Americans with Disabilities Act
What are some of the improvements that
make this project unique to the region?
Improved
safety fencing
Quiet
play areas for neurodiversity
Shaded
areas
Resilient
Rubber Safety Surfacing
Accessible
playground equipment
Sensory
playground equipment
ADA
Parking Spaces
ADA
Curb Cuts/sidewalks/sitting areas.
Will there be public interaction about
this application?
The deadline for filing this grant
application is February 5, 2025. It is anticipated that
the Borough will conduct a Chandler Park Playground
Workshop for the public as well as the required Public
Hearing. As a part of the Workship and promotional
flyers, there will be a QR Code for links to a Survey
Document to allow for additional public input. Local
organizations and the public will be reached through the
Borough of Lavallette website, the Lavallette Boardwalk
Facebook page and through the Ocean Star and other local
publications.
·
Public Hearing – January
21, 2025, at 7 PM
·
Public Playground
Workshop- Saturday January 18, 2025
11am
Lavallette Fire Department 125 Washington Avenue.
Workshop Flyer
What is the cost of the project?
As of this date, plans are being finalized. The cost of the playground project with equipment and safety surfacing is $565,781,85 however, additional costs for fencing and site work are currently being determined. (1/2/2025) These costs will be added to the grant application.
Addendum: (1/20/2025)
The total cost of the proposed project is set at the
$700,000 cost. If we are successful in receiving the
grant for 75% of the total, we would receive $525,000.
Our obligation would be for the balance of $175,000.
This 25% cost may be financed for 20 years at the rate
of 0% interest. If the loan was to be accepted at the 20
year payoff, it would cost $8,750 per year. Of course,
the loan can be paid off sooner. It is proposed that the
loan would be paid through the Recreation Trust,
Community Development Block Grants, local tax dollar and
possible corporate sponsorships and donations.
Questions and comments can be sent to the Clerk
Community Survey: www.surveymonkey.com/r/QN88S5P
Renderings
Click on the picture to view full size
Map of Project Area
