$1.6 Million Mabie Playground Renovations Nearing Completion In Summit

SUMMIT, NJ — The city’s $1.6 million renovation of Mabie Memorial Playground is entering its final phase, with officials saying the long-anticipated ADA-accessible and intergenerational playground could open as early as the week of June 29, pending final construction work.

Mayor Elizabeth Fagan and Assistant Director of the Department of Community Programs David Guida provided an update during a recent Facebook Live broadcast from the site, where much of the new equipment and surfacing is already in place.

Guida said the project is nearing completion and highlighted several of the new features designed to make the playground accessible for children of all abilities.

“We are this close to having our first fully ADA-accessible intergenerational playground, which is going to be amazing for our residents,” Guida said, noting that installation work has been progressing steadily and that several key elements are already visible on site.

Among the features is new accessible play equipment designed to allow children with mobility challenges to participate more fully in playground activities, along with upgraded surfacing intended to improve safety and accessibility throughout the site.

City officials said the project has been years in the making, beginning with a broader playground master plan developed to assess aging recreational facilities across Summit. Several playgrounds in the city were identified for upgrades or full replacement due to age and wear.

Mabie Memorial Playground is one of the first major projects to move through that plan’s full redevelopment process, following earlier improvements at other local parks such as Tatlock Playground and ongoing work planned at additional sites.

Funding for the Mabie project comes primarily from a combination of state, county, and local grants. Officials cited support from the state’s Local Recreation Improvement Grant program, the Summit Foundation, and a $750,000 matching grant from New Jersey Green Acres as key sources of funding.

According to Guida, the combination of grants and local contributions helped make the full-scale renovation possible.

“It’s been quite the process,” Guida said, referencing the multi-year timeline from planning through construction.

The redesign also included input from community stakeholders and students. Officials noted that elementary school students contributed ideas as part of a district initiative to gather design suggestions for local playgrounds, with some of those concepts influencing features incorporated into newer park upgrades.

While Mabie Memorial is nearing completion, officials also provided updates on other recreation projects across the city.

At Tatlock Playground, additional work is expected to be completed in the fall, including final pieces of equipment still to be installed. At the Memorial Community Center Playground, city officials said they are preparing to move forward with a survey to gather resident feedback on future design plans, with fundraising and budgeting decisions to follow later this year.

Guida said the Memorial Playground project could cost approximately $500,000 if a full renovation is pursued, though final decisions will depend on survey results and fundraising progress.

“We want to make sure what we choose to add is what the residents at large want,” he said.

Officials also emphasized ongoing improvements across Summit’s recreational facilities, including upgrades at the municipal pool, golf course, and summer programming sites. The city recently kicked off its summer camp program, which serves more than 450 children with support from over 80 staff members.

Beyond playgrounds, the Department of Community Programs is also preparing for a full slate of summer events, including concerts, movie nights, and community gatherings such as “Screen on the Green,” which will continue throughout the season.

Guida said many of these programs are funded through corporate sponsorships and supplemental recreation trust funds when needed, rather than relying heavily on the municipal budget.

As for Mabie Memorial Playground, officials say the final steps include completing remaining installations and finishing safety and accessibility checks before opening the site to the public.

If timelines hold, residents could see the newly renovated playground open within days, marking the culmination of a multi-year effort to modernize one of Summit’s key community recreation spaces.