Midland Park August 22, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Midland Park is hoping to refurbish its playground at the Dairy Street recreation complex with the help of county funds. The borough council at its last meeting approved submitting an application for an Open Space, Recreation, Historic Preservation and Parkland grant to do the work. The estimated cost of the project is $150,000, with $75,000 coming from the Town seeks grant to upgrade playground equipment county grant, if approved, and a $75,000 match from the borough’s own Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund. “There is not enough available for the children with disabilities to play,” said Borough Clerk/Administrator Addie Hanna, who recommended the project. “What we have is outdated and does not conform to current Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations.” The existing playground was installed in the late 1980s. The grant application states that not only are there more public requests for a refurbished playground, but also the town’s summer camp program has indicated a need for upgraded equipment. Hanna said that the 50-year old swing set at the park had to be taken down earlier this year following a safety inspection by the town’s insurance company. Their report noted that the swings were prone to tampering by juveniles and that they presented a hazard to DPW employees from slip and fall hazards when unraveling the swing chains. The safety report also recommended replacing the worn plastic covering on the equipment stair treads and the rubber covering of the exposed rotating knuckle on the tire swing, and installing signs indicating the age requirements for use of the equipment. Safe summer The North Jersey Foundation for Safety’s “Otto the Auto” recently visited Safety Town students at the Recreation Barn in Midland Park. “Otto” and Officer Brendan Burke spoke to the children about pedestrian safety. The American Automobile Association’s pedestrian safety film “See and Be Seen” was also enjoyed by the students. Front row: Safety Town students Marcus Catuogno and Ella Eastman. Back row: Police Officer Mark Berninger, Police Officer Brendan Burke and Sgt. Noah Van Vliet. Plans call for purchasing new ADA accessible playground equipment and other equipment, providing an ADA perimeter access way, and site clearing, mulching, top soiling and seeding . The area will also be fenced in and have a man-gate and a vehicle gate for easy maintenance access by the DPW. Hanna said that the fencing is essential for children safety because it makes it easier to supervise youngsters, particularly since the playground is close to the parking area. The administrator said the playground upgrade had been on the back burner for a number of years while other projects with higher priority were completed. The borough’s own open space trust, which is up for renewal by referendum this November, is used to match the county grants each year. Renewal of the municipal trust fund will have no additional tax impact on borough residents, but does permit access to the county trust fund.