New Lakewood Playground In The Works


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Playground Construction Underway

LAKEWOOD NY, (WNY News Now) – A new playground is coming to the Richard Hartley Park in Lakewood.

The $700,000 dollar project is underway right now. In two phases, construction aims to  transform the two platform play areas into a real gem for kids of all ages to enjoy.





“We’re replacing all of the equipment on both pads, putting them in new engineered wood chips surface,“ explained Lakewood Community Development Corporation President William Evans. “There’s going to be hill slides built right into the hill between the two paths, longest zipline in the region. That is phase one, phase two will involve creating handicap accessible pathways.”  

The project to transform the decaying park has garnered tremendous support.

“This whole project began with a fundraising effort between community members,“ stated Evans. “That’s really what got it off the ground. Allowed us to then secure some state funding as well.”  





















With support within the community the local development corp was able to collect close to $200,000 dollars, leading to a grant of $450,000 dollars from the state’s Environmental Protection Fund Local Waterfront Revitalization Program Grant.

“It was really that community fundraiser that enabled that,“ explained Evans. “Because they look at that, they look at that to judge if that’s something the community really wants.”   

In the end, officials believe that the final touches to the park will be completed by the end of the year.

 









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