An ADA Playground Is Coming To Hatboro. Find Out The Details.

HATBORO, PA — After four years, plans for the borough's ADA playground project are progressing.

At Monday night's Hatboro Borough Council committee meeting, Councilman Alex Myers presented design plans for the playground, which will be funded partially through a federal HUD grant.

The playground was approved for funding through a federal grant of $460,000 received through U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean. The project began in 2021, and funding was included in the 2022 federal budget.

"We appreciate everyone’s patience as this project has taken some time to get into the pipeline for forward movement," Myers said. "In this presentation, we will be sharing the design for the playground itself along with our expected next steps.

He thanked Councilwoman Jennifer Hendrickson and her family for the additional help in creating this finalized design.

"With inclusiveness as a goal, we hope to bring a playground to Hatboro that recognizes and is responsive to the fact that our residents and visitors may come from different abilities, backgrounds, and needs," he said. "We work to treat everyone with respect and fairness in Hatboro, and what better way to promote empathy, understanding, and friendship than through a meaningfully designed playground."

The borough had completed an engineering study for the site, which is currently under review to see if it fits the grant parameters.

Borough officials said the playground installation is not ready for a public bid yet. The playground budget is being updated as the cost of the equipment and installation has increased since the project was first submitted, and additional elements have been added to increase the inclusivity of this project.

Borough officials said they expect overall costs to exceed the original grant award of $460,000.

A playground committee will be formed to raise funds to close the cost gap, officials said. That committee will also seek local partnerships, additional grants, and/or fundraising opportunities.

The playground would also be dedicated to the memory of Edna Mae Massamilla, a resident and member of Lehman Memorial Methodist Church.

Massamilla advocated for the disabled community throughout her life.

As an internationally known poet, author, and musician, she also corresponded with President John F. Kennedy about legislation for those in need. Along with her husband, John, she published numerous books, brochures, and articles, and frequently contributed to the Public Spirit Newspaper.

She was still working on several publications up until a week before her passing in 2021 at the age of 104.