(Kearny, New Jersey) – During a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, June 10, 2017, Mayor Alberto G. Santos joined First Ward Council Members Albino Cardoso and Marytrine De Castro and Council Members Eileen Eckel (3rd Ward), Susan McCurrie (4th Ward), Peter Santana (2nd Ward) and members of the Recreation Commission and Board of Education in officially opening the newly renovated Frank R. Pettigrew Memorial Playground located at the corner of Highland and Woodland Avenues at Washington Elementary School, 80 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, New Jersey.
The recent renovations to the Pettigrew Playground included the construction of new playground equipment and a tile safety surface area. The playground now consists of new concrete sidewalks, concrete curbing, a half-court basketball court system, hopscotch areas, acrylic surfacing coating, chain link fencing with gates, and barrier safety netting. Site furnishings include decorative benches, picnic tables with an overhead canvas shade structure, and a bicycle rack which helps create an attractive area for toddlers, young children, their parents and neighborhood residents. According to Mayor Santos, “the Town of Kearny has invested in our parks and recreation areas. It is exciting to see these open spaces improved for recreation uses.”
The Frank R. Pettigrew Memorial Playground Monument was refurbished as a part of this project. The playground was finished with new landscape areas inclusive of grass, shrubs, and trees. Neglia Engineering Associates designed the new playground and was the construction manager for the project. Community meetings and neighborhood workshops organized by Mayor Al Santos and First Ward Council Members Albino Cardoso and Marytrine De Castro generated valuable suggestions that were used in the final design. The Town of Kearny acknowledged the Board of Education for accommodating the town’s request to expand the play area.
The construction contract was competitively bid to Reivax Contracting Corp. The total cost of the project is $371,388.94. Mayor Santos explained the importance of open space and recreation areas in the community and pointed out the playground is part of the Town’s park inventory of modernized, renovated parks during his time as Kearny’s mayor. “One of my priorities has been to upgrade and revitalize Kearny’s parks and playgrounds.”
