Parents and Park Alliance Raise Funds for Play Space

A plan for a new playground in Parsippany at the Greystone Hospital site is getting closer to becoming a reality. The project, a collaboration between parents and the Alliance for Morris County Parks, is a unique one. This play space will be one that allows children of all ability levels to interact. The first fund raiser for the tentatively titled All-Access Playground, A Place for ALL Children takes place this Saturday at the park site.

Denise Lanza, assistant deputy director of the nonprofit Park Alliance, said the idea for an innovative new playground came more than a year ago from a group of parents of students at the Cedar Knolls-based P.G. Chambers School, which serves children with disabilities.

"They came to the Park Alliance and offered to assist with fund raising for the playground if we could find a location," Lanza said. "The Morris County Park Commission and Executive Director Dave Helmer offered space at Central Park of Morris County, the former Greystone Hospital property. We have been working on the design for a year and [will] have a wonderful playground that provides for children with disabilities as well as able-bodied children to play together on the same equipment."

That accessible equipment includes ramps and other implements to encourage sensory play.

Lanza calls the projected playground "a place for social and emotional support [for] children with disabilities and their families."

“A playground that includes opportunities for children with disabilities is so important to our community," said Tiffany Srnensky, the mother who initiated the project. "It allows children to play together and learn from each other, while giving families the opportunity to socialize.”

Jennifer Konidaris of Mendham, another of the moms volunteering for the project, agrees.

"We so often tell our children what they cannot do," she said. "This playground offers them something they can do."

The land itself is expansive. Right off of Parsippany's Central Avenue, which is near the Morris Plains border, the site for the future play space sits near other recreation offerings, including a multi-terrain cross-country running trail, a softball field, two skating rinks and a dog park. 

The estimated cost for the project, according to Lanza, is $350,000, which will include equipment, surfacing and installation. The effort to raise those funds is getting underway. On Saturday, the Park Alliance will put on a Family Fun Day that will include a 5K run on Central Park's cross-country track, a Walk and Roll, music, food and more.  

"The event on Saturday is the first public fund raiser being held," Lanza said. "I am also writing grants and seeking corporate sponsorship. One of our first corporate sponsors is Glaxo Smith Kline, which recently gave us a community support grant."

The Morris County Park Commission also is expefted to provide matching funds for the effort as grants become available. The goal is for construction to begin late next year, according to Lanza.

The first fundraiser for the playground is scheduled for Oct. 15 at the park site. The event includes a 5K run on the cross-country course, a Walk and Roll, and a Family Funfest with music, food and activities. The race starts at 9 a.m. followed by the Walk and Roll at 10:30 and the Family Funfest, which runs from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. 

Registration forms for the event are available at www.morrisparks.net. Online registration for the 5K Trail run can be found at www.raceforum.com/centralparknj.

Those interested in learning more about the All Acccess Playground and those who wish to donate or become a sponsor are asked to call Lanza at 973-326-7615 or send email.