A YUM Publication
No. 6 Vol. 7
JULY 2024
Little Falls Unveils Newly Revamped, Inclusive Wilmore Park Playground be, and this park has been many years in the making." The park will receive a few more additions, which will include picnic tables and water fountains. He also said he was excited to have those final additions done and looks forward to the park's full completion. "There is also a big thank you to this entire council who approved funding and got this park created," Damiano added. "So a huge thank you to this council and especially Christine Hablitz, who was involved with the design of the park from the very beginning." Hablitz commended the new playground and also thanked Damiano. "I had a vision and he let me totally go with it. I am Photo credit: Township of Little Falls The Township of Little Falls opened their much anticipated renovated and inclusive playground at Wilmore Park. Pictured is Mayor James Damiano during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
By Tina Pappas he much anticipated grand-reopening of the new, inclusive playground at Wilmore Park was held by Mayor James Damiano and the Township Council on June 19. The playground's upgrades were made possible by Passaic County Open Space grant funding. Excitement filled the air as children with their families waited at the front gate next to the gazebo for the ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Damiano. Once the ribbon was cut, enthusiastic kids ran into the new playground for the first time. Prior to the ribbon-cutting, Damiano thanked those who helped the project come to fruition. He especially thanked Councilwoman Christine Hablitz for spearheading the project early on. He also thanked Deputy Director Sandi Lazzara and the Board of County Commissioners for making the project a reality via county grant funding. Additionally, he thanked FTC Kids in Little Falls for the donation of an inclusive communications board, which will assist children of all abilities. Damiano told attendees that he has been at the park every single day watching the playground's reconstruction and could not wait for it to be opened full-time for kids in the community to enjoy it. He added that although the original park was busy, it will be nothing compared to the new and improved one. He also said that those who worked on building the new playground commented that it was one of the most intricate and amazing playgrounds they ever constructed. "This new park is certainly one everyone can be proud of and it's going to be here at home in Little Falls for all of us," Damiano said. "I cannot wait for everyone to enjoy this playground every single day. I can tell by seeing all of you at this park that the excitement is everything it would
The Falls Creamery gives out ice-cream to children and their families during the opening of the newly improved playground at Wilmore Park.
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Excited children and their families flock to the newly improved playground at Wilmore Park on June 19.
very, very thankful to him for giving me that opportunity," she said. "I can't wait to see the residents playing and having a good time." Hablitz also thanked Lazzara for the county grant funding, including Anne Kahwaty from the Township's Open Space Board for helping to fund the project. She also thanked her fellow council members for approving funding, including Recreation Director Tyler Passero and John Pace from the Recreation Department. She also thanked the Township's Open Space Committee and the FTC Kids in Little Falls. Damiano thanked Lazzara for her efforts in securing grant funding for the construction of the project. Lazzara, who served on the Open Space Committee, said inclusive playgrounds are very important and that she and the Board of County Commissioners were happy to partner with the Township to build the new, inclusive playground for all kids. "When you hear children laughing, playing, running and having a good time, you don't know to what degree their abilities are," Lazarra emphasized. "I bring my own
grandchildren here because they liked this playground even before the new one was built. I hope you enjoy it and have fun!" Damiano also touted FTC Kids for their donation to the park with the new communications board. "For those who have disabilities, the communications board will make this park an even more inclusive area for all of our residents here," he noted. Damiano also spotlighted The Falls Creamery for donating free ice cream for the children who attended the grand opening. After the ribbon-cutting, he then invited all of the kids and their families in attendance to carefully enter the playground and enjoy it for the very first time. Local resident Sharon Verhagan, who brought her grandson Jackson to the newly renovated playground, was very amazed by the work that was done and commended the safety measures that were implemented in the material. "It's fabulous! The other park was so much fun but this is just above and beyond! It's over the top!" she said. "And I love the turf, it's so soft! Nobody is going to get hurt and have to pick woodchips off their knees and elbows!" Hablitz spoke afterwards and said she was thrilled to announce the opening of the playground, adding that getting to work on the project from the ground up was amazing. "The new playground offers state-of-the-art equipment with inclusive components and safety features, such as the new soft surface flooring," she explained. "It provides a safe environment for kids to explore, learn, and make lasting memories for many years to come."