Major Changes In The Works For Brian Gregg Park In Newtown

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Plans are moving forward in Newtown Borough for a major upgrade to Brian S. Gregg Memorial Park on North Congress Street.

The estimated $185,000 project will include the replacement of the main playground structure inside the tot lot section of the park, among other improvements.

The borough has applied for a grant from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to fund half the cost of the project. The balance would be picked up by the borough.

The centerpiece of the project will be a brand new inclusive playground that will replace the main structure at the tot lot.

Brian S. Gregg Memorial Park on North Congress Street. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

According to Borough Manager Craig Totaro, the new play area will be more inclusive and more “intelligently designed for sensitivity to all sorts of disabilities - touch, tactile, hearing. It will have all the bells and whistles.”

In addition, the other play equipment at the park will be moved around to better separate the older kids from the younger ones.

The project also includes a new ramped entrance to the park and a crosswalk on North Congress to facilitate pedestrian safety and improve accessibility.

The project will also add a trail to the passive side of the park, along with new park benches.

The park is named in memory of Newtown Borough Police Officer Brian Gregg who was killed in the line of duty in 2005 while serving the community.