May 1, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 3 Waldwick Waldwick will have a barrier-free playground in place at Borough Park by summer’s end. The borough council last week awarded a contract for the special needs equipment to Ben Shaffer & Associates of Lake Hopacong, NJ, at a cost of $75,201.59. The purchase was made off a state contract list, so it did not have to be bid, according to Borough Administrator Gary Kratz. “It’s a nice idea for our residents who need it,” said Mayor Tom Giordano when the project was first discussed earlier this month. At that time Councilman Frank Palladino questioned whether a sufficient number of residents would use it to justify the expenditure. “People use our park, and this is giving people with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy it,” the mayor said. Barrier-free playground moves closer to reality The 60 ft. by 80 ft. handicap accessible facility will be funded with moneys from the Municipal Open Space Trust Fund. The council allocated $100,000 in its 2013 municipal budget for the project. The borough applied for a Bergen County Community Development grant last year but was turned down. The new playground will be located north of the Lions Playground at Borough Park. Kratz said it will take about two months to manufacture the specialized equipment, so that installation would probably take place in July. A separate contractor, who needs to be state-certified, will do the installation. A contract for that project has yet to be awarded. Kratz said no fencing would be erected around the play- ground so that children could travel freely from one area to another. He said a mulch base would be used because rubber gets too hot in the summer. The administrator said the new facility would be similar to one in place in Parsippany, one of the first ADA playgrounds in the state. “It integrates special needs and able bodied equipment,” he said. The athletic department at Waldwick High School is seeking community sponsors for its sports poster program. Funds raised by the sale of the posters will benefit athletics at the school. Sports poster sponsors sought All American Sports Posters has been contracted to produce the posters. For details about becoming a sponsor, contact Michael Clancy, assistant principal/athletic director, at (201) 652-9000 or All American Posters at (800) 556-1380.