Proposed Schmidts Woods Playground Will Be An Addition To The Existing One

SECAUCUS, NJ — Here is the latest update on the town's proposal to build a second playground in Schmidts Woods:

This is a new playground, but it is actually an extension or addition that will be built connected to the existing playground that is there already. (This was not made clear when plans were shown at the Council meeting last week, when it was presented as an entirely new or second playground.) So it is a playground extension. The two playgrounds will touch and share a rubber surface.

On Thursday, Mayor Mike Gonnelli met this reporter at the woods to show exactly where the playground will go: It will be a 3,200-square-foot rectangle and it will extend off the existing playground that's there currently.

"The rubberized surface will start here," said Gonnelli pointing to the existing play area. "And it will extend out this way. Yes, these picnic tables will probably have to go."

A few picnic tables there are there currently will have to be taken down.

Gonnelli also stressed that the only reason he wants to build this is so children with special needs have a place to play. Once it is built, there will be three inclusive playgrounds in Secaucus: At Clarendon Elementary, one currently under construction in Ivanoski Park on Charles Street and now Schmidts Woods.

"We wanted an inclusive playground like this in each of the wards of Secaucus. That's why we picked Schmidts Woods," said the mayor.

The playground will have adaptive swings, bouncy equipment for special-needs kids and will have music-making equipment.

As town administrator Gary Jeffas previously said, no existing trees will be cut down to build the playground. Also, none of the existing walking trails in Schmidts Woods will be affected.

The town of Secaucus did submit an application Wednesday to get the Green Acres funding to build the playground (Wednesday was the deadline to apply for the Green Acres funding from the state.)

There is a petition circulating against the playground: https://www.change.org/p/halt-...

The creator of the petition (who works for Secaucus Park Patrol) said her opposition to the playground still stands. She is still concerned about more children playing in a wooded area, with old-growth trees with heavy limbs that can fall, and children adding noise to what is meant to be a quiet, woodsy, serene part of Secaucus.

"3,200 square feet and all they have to take down is two picnic tables?" she asked skeptically. "It is a well-intended project but just another synthetic addition to one of our only nature parks."

Gonnelli said he is aware of the petition and the community response on Facebook, where he noted most people seem to be in support of the new playground. Gonnelli also said Thursday the trees in Schmidts Woods are regularly inspected and maintained by a tree company to prevent the risk of tree limbs falling down on someone.

Town Of Secaucus Is Building A New Playground In Schmidts Woods (Jan. 29)

Update On Petition To Stop 2nd Schmidts Woods Playground (Feb. 4)