HONORING VETS, KIDS
CHESTER TOWNSHIP >> Township officials marked the first completed project in their ongoing park redevelopment projects Tuesday afternoon. Councilwoman Angela Prattis, director of parks and recreation, cut the ribbon on Veterans Memorial Tot Lot in Toby Farms under clear skies and 90-plus degree temperatures.
“I’m so excited to be able to come together for our first completed project,” said Prattis, thanking guests in attendance from Upland Borough, Chester City and Delaware County governments, and the Concord Township-based MOR Construction Services that completed the project.
“We had nothing for the children, so to be able to honor our veterans as well as our children, I’m honored to be a part of this moment,” Prattis said following the ceremony. “It’s a mark in history… it was a long time coming.” Township officials estimated the Community Development Block Grant process for the park began in January, concluding with an approximate two-month construction process.
“It was a vacant piece of property when we got here; it came together quick,” said Brian Moore, of MOR Construction. The park features two sets of playground equipment for children up to age 7, with game tables, seating and open grass space for older children and adults. “There’s a foot of fiber mulch underneath, so it’s impacttested for kids,” Moore said of the areas surrounding the playground equipment. The areas also feature an underdrain system to handle water runoff.
“Usually we’re in sewer – and waterworks, and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) ramps, but we like doing this,” said Moore. “All the smiling faces on the kids make it worthwhile,” said Tom Blair of MOR.
Neighborhood children Kasheem, Jashad and Sedrick said they came running to the park site at Powell and Rainer roads when they realized the 3 p.m. ceremony was about to start.
“Those swings are too good – it made think that I’m at an amusement park,” said Sedrick. The children, entering grades 5 through 8, said the park is well-situated near their school bus stops and the shopping center at the Powell Road entrance of the neighborhood. “When you get something to eat, you don’t have to walk a mile,” Jashad said, referring to Worrilow Park in the southern end of Toby Farms.
The three said that while the playground equipment is intended for younger children, they enjoy the shaded seating, game space and new landscaping. “People in business – they can come here with computers,” Sedrick said.
The Veterans Memorial Tot Lot is the first completed project under the township’s ongoing revocations in the Toby Farms, Fairgrounds and Hopewell neighborhoods. Work is set to start in August on a spray pool at the 12th and Yarnall streets park in the Fairgrounds, which received new basketball courts under previous renovations.