By DON STINE
ASBURY PARK – Asbury Park children will have a new playground as the first phase of a new park on Springwood Avenue nears completion.
A children’s playground is being installed at the north-eastern section of a large vacant lot on the 1000 block of Springwood Avenue, between Atkins and Union Avenues, just east of the new Springwood Commons, which houses the senior center.
“We expect the playground to be open for use by this week,” City Engineer Joe Cunha said.
He said the surface under the playground will soon be covered with poured rubber chips followed by a solid surface mat for safety. Once completed, fencing now around the playground will be removed and it will be open to the public.
Most of the funding for the park, which will be completed in phases and named the Springwood Renaissance Park, is being provided through the Monmouth County Open Space Program. The city has already received two grants for $250,000 and has applied for another $250,000 grant.
Cunha said the next phase of the park will be installation of a fountain just south of the playground, with a courtyard, chess tables and a civic plaza that ends at a stage.
An active re creation area will also be created at the western section of the park, surrounded by a jogging/running track around the perimeter.
“Depending on our funding, we are also looking into installing restrooms in the park,” Cunha said.
