On Wednesday, the Board of Commissioners, Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen, City Council, and the Cummings Family announced the construction of a new Jake’s Place Playground at New Camden Park. Build Jake’s Place aims to create all-inclusive playgrounds where children of all abilities can play together.
This will be the third all-inclusive playground in Camden County. The first Jake’s Place is located in John Adler Park in Cherry Hill, while the second is in New Brooklyn Park in Winslow Township.
“Jake’s Place has provided thousands of children the chance to have fun and play with their peers at playgrounds in Cherry Hill and Winslow Township,” said Commissioner Deputy Director Ed McDonnell. “We are so thrilled to expand this wonderful initiative to build another fully accessible, inclusive playground in Camden City and we cannot wait to welcome families to the facility in the fall.”
The project will partly rely on an $883,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Planned work includes installing new inclusive park equipment like access boards and ramps, adding about 9,000 square feet of protective surfacing for accessibility, constructing a concrete pad for picnic areas with shading, building a perimeter fence with an entrance gate, and creating a sidewalk connecting to existing paths.
“A child should never have to miss out on playing at the playground due to a lack of accessibility,” said Commissioner Jeffrey Nash. “Jake’s Place makes sure that every child is included and has their particular needs met. The Board of Commissioners is dedicated to serving every child and family that come to our county parks.”
The original Jake’s Place was built in 2011 at what became John Adler Park in Cherry Hill Township. It remains one of the most popular playgrounds within the Camden County Park System.
Jacob Myles Cummings-Nasto inspired these playgrounds after being diagnosed with a rare cardiac condition before his passing. His family continues his legacy by establishing these community spaces.
