Sparta Recieves $512K Grant for 'Jakes Law' Playground to Replace Kids' Kastle

SPARTA, NJ – The Kids’ Kastle playground at Station Park will be getting a make-over. The old structures will be dismantled and new “inclusive” equipment will be built in its place.

The funding for the new facility is coming from a “Jake’s Law” playground grant. According to Sparta Recreation Director Jeanne Montemarano, the township’s request of $512,000 has been approved.  It requires the township to provide 25% matching funds, approximately $128,000.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

“This project gives Sparta residents the opportunity to have children of all abilities play together in the same space and/or on their own in the same park,” Montemarano said. “The Kid's Kastle playground was in need of an upgrade and this grant is allowing residents to have the newest, safest equipment that all young residents can benefit from.”

The plans are not yet finalized, beyond the concept plans submitted with the grant.  Montemarano said there will be two areas, one for younger children up to 5-years-old and one for children six to 12 years old, as is the case with the current Kids’ Kastle.

She said the new facility will include “individual sensory play components, wheelchair accessible pieces - as part of the larger components including swings, climbing apparatus, slides and other typical elements of a playground.”

There is currently no timeline for this project.  Once the township receives the signed agreement from the state they will begin.  The resurfacing requires specific temperature and precipitation conditions. From there once the equipment is ordered it can take about six weeks for delivery and six to eight weeks to construct, depending on the weather, Montemarano said.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

“The Township Parks Department with the DPW will be removing the old playground equipment and footings and then will prepare the surface for the build.  I anticipate this to take several weeks.  That work won't start until after the equipment is ordered,” Montemarano said.

A contractor will do the resurfacing and construction of the new playground, Montemarano said.

Any parts from the Kids’ Kastle equipment that may be used on other existing township playgrounds will be stored for future use, Montemarano said.  Because safety regulations have changed, the equipment might not be “up to code” for use in other locations. Additionally, the process of removing the playground equipment will likely damage it, another reason why it will be scrapped, she said.

Sparta Township CFO Grant Rome said they will be making an adjustment to the budget to accommodate the insertion of special revenue through a Section 159 resolution.  That will establish the funds for the whole project, much of which will be paid off by the Jake’s Law grant funding.

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net