Chandler Park Playground Project

Chandler Render

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.

 

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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 -  Municipal Building

·         Public Playground Workshop- Saturday January 18, 2025 11am Lavallette Fire Department 125 Washington Avenue.External Link  Workshop Flyer Pdf File

 

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/QN88S5PExternal Link

 

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Chandler Park RenderingChandler Park RenderingChandler Park Rendering

 

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