Kutztown Park received a $150,000 state grant to renovate its outdated playground equipment.
Kutztown’s only playground will receive new features, including but not limited to, new playground equipment, stepping stones and a plaza space, according to an Oct. 21 press release from Senator Judy Schwank’s office.
Kutztown was awarded the grant courtesy of the Greenways, Trails and Recreation program of the Commonwealth Financing Authority.
“Our playground equipment is really outdated and some of it is unsafe, so to go ahead and get a new playground for our children is just wonderful,” Kutztown Mayor Sandy Green said in an interview with The Patriot.
“The new investment will transform the playground into a place that kids truly love and parents will feel better about because they will know their children are safe,” Schwank stated in her press release.
According to the release, the new equipment will be ADA compliant, in addition to meeting the safety standards of the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission.
This is not the first time the park has been scheduled to undergo renovations. On July 15, the Council approved a bid to Spotts Brothers, based out of Schuylkill Haven, to renovate the park’s bathroom facilities.
“We originally got a grant to do some renovations in the park, which includes the bathrooms that we’re putting in. But that [the bathrooms] ended up taking up so much of the money that we were scrambling to find equipment and a plan that would still be beneficial and that people would like,” Council Member Rachael Martin said.
Kutztown Park is an essential landmark of the town, and the home of not just the playground, but also of numerous events throughout the year.
At Tuesday’s Kutztown Borough Council meeting alone, the park was referenced twice, first for approval of a contract relating to its restroom amenities, and second for the post-approval of a “Movie Under the Stars” night that took place in the park on Oct. 18.
“This additional grant opens up so many more options for us to be able to afford equipment that’s actually cool,” Martin said. “People have such a connection to the equipment that’s up there now, that if we’re going to replace it, it has to be worth it.”
The community’s love for the park’s playground was perhaps best captured by an online post Green saw shortly after news broke of the grant.
“Someone already posted on Facebook, ‘Please don’t get rid of that sliding board!'” Green said.