Mercer Co. Approves $450,000 For Park Improvement Program

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Officials in Mercer County recently approved additional funding for the park improvement program.

The program is funded by the federal American Rescue Plan (ARPA).

At the last meeting, the Mercer County Board of Commissioners approved $450,000 for an expanded round of Mercer-At-Play funding focused on recreation for underserved populations.

Mercer-At-Play was first created in 2006 and reauthorized in 2016. The objective of the program is to expand active recreation opportunities for Mercer residents in partnership with all 12 municipalities.

Under the program, residents have access to accessible playgrounds, senior recreation upgrades, and after-school sports mentor programs.

These mini-grants aim to expand access to recreation opportunities for underserved groups in Mercer by partnering with towns and non-profits.

“Mercer-At-Play has been a fantastic success since its inception in 2006, but it has often taken far too long for funds to be approved and dispersed," County Executive Dan Benson said. "Using federal ARPA dollars, we can quickly connect funding to non-profits and towns to ensure our youngest and oldest residents have better access to expanded recreation opportunities.”