Evesham Township celebrates grand opening of new, 12,000-square-foot Completely Inclusive Playground at Evesboro Downs Park

Evesham Township officials and local families gathered this week to celebrate a major milestone in the community with the grand opening of the new Completely Inclusive Playground at Evesboro Downs Park. This 12,000-square-foot project was specially crafted to accommodate the physical, sensory, and social needs of those experiencing disabilities, with the finished project marking a transformative leap forward for accessible play in Evesham Township.

The playground was made possible with the support of a $731,000 grant awarded under the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Funding program. The township secured this funding following the state’s pivotal policy expansion that allowed municipal governments to apply directly, rather than limiting eligibility strictly to county entities. Evesham eagerly seized the opportunity, aligning perfectly with its ongoing municipal mission to integrate an "all-inclusive" framework into all community planning.

“Seeing this vision fully realized is an incredibly proud and emotional moment for Evesham Township,” Mayor Jaclyn Veasy said. “This playground is more than just beautiful new equipment - it represents our promise that every single member of our community belongs here. By breaking down physical barriers to play, we have built a space where children of all abilities can learn, laugh, and grow alongside one another without limitations. We are so grateful to our state partners and everyone whose dedication helped transform this dream into a reality for our families.”

Councilman Joe Fisicaro, Jr., who serves as Township Council’s liaison to the Evesham Disabilities and Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee, also noted how families have voiced a need for an inclusive environment like this, and how they now have it right here in their own community. 

“Inclusivity is about all of us," Councilman Fisicaro said. "When kids play together, they accept together."

The design of the new playground exceeds standard Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements to ensure true universal accessibility. Key features and infrastructure enhancements include:

• Pour-in-Place Rubber Safety Surfacing: A smooth, seamless foundation that allows easy navigation for wheelchairs, strollers, and individuals with limited mobility.
  
  
• Wheelchair-Accessible Two-Story Play Structure: A towering, state-of-the-art main structure intentionally designed to allow children in wheelchairs to experience elevated, multi-level play safely alongside their peers.
  
  
• Specialized Toddler Area: A dedicated space tailored specifically to the developmental and safety needs of the community’s youngest park-goers.
  
  
• Multi-Sensory & Percussion Play: Interactive sensory stations, tactile walls, and an outdoor percussion play zone engineered to stimulate cognitive engagement, touch, and musical exploration.
  
  
• Inclusive Motion & Swing Elements: Universally accessible features including a specialized Zero-G chair swing and an inclusive seesaw designed to let children of all physical abilities experience the joy of movement together.
  
  
• Surrounding Infrastructure & Accessibility Upgrades: Newly expanded ADA-compliant parking spaces, smooth accessible walkways and clear traffic marking symbols to ensure safe transitions to and from the play area, alongside comfortable new benches for families.
  
  
• New Bathrooms: New permanent bathrooms will be added in the coming months as part of ongoing upgrades to the park overall, further allowing the playground to serve as a destination for families.

A driving force behind the funding mechanism of the playground was New Jersey’s landmark legislation known as “Jake’s Law.” The law honors the memory of Jacob Cummings-Nasto, a Cherry Hill toddler born with hypoplastic heart syndrome who passed away at age two due to complications from heart surgery. As an inclusive playground served as a vital, cherished environment for Jake's physical therapy, the legislation now prioritizes and incentivizes Green Acres applications that build similarly accessible spaces. 

To celebrate the completion of this long-awaited project, the Township hosted a festive ribbon-cutting and opening ceremony on Aug. 6. Local children, families, and members of the public turned out to explore the new facility, while attendees beat the summer heat with complimentary ice cream, capping off a joyful day of play and community unity. Also in attendance to help celebrate were members of Township Council, Township Staff, members of the Evesham Disabilities and Veterans Advisory Committee, Evesham Human Rights Advisory Council, and Marlton Recreation Council Sport Unity Program, as well as officials from Burlington County and State Officials. The township was also honored to host Jacob Cummings-Nasto's grandparents, Jim and Lynn Cummings, as well as Art Aston, who represents their nonprofit Our View (formerly Build Jake's Place).