Doylestown Borough Cuts Ribbon On Broad Commons Playground

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — Before the ribbon could even hit the ground, kids ran into the new play area where they christened the space with nonstop smiles and laughter.

As borough leaders and parents watched, they smiled broadly as the kids scurried through the play area climbing up ladders, crawling through secret passageways, scaling giant boulders and making their way inside a child-size replica of Fonthill Castle.

Doylestown Borough cut the ribbon Monday evening on the town's newest playground and celebrated the new addition "as an investment in our children's future."

King of the Castle.

Taking a spin in the new playground.

Ringing the bells. (Photos by Jeff Werner)

During remarks prior to the ribbon cutting, Council President Jack O'Brien commended the council, the borough's administration, the public works and the parks and recreation department, state officials and the legacy donors for helping to make the new playground happen.

O'Brien also singled out borough manager John Davis and public works director Phil Ehlinger Jr. who he said came up with the idea of incorporating the kid-sized Fonthill Castle and Mercer Tile Works into the design of the new Doylestown-centric playground.

"We hope you all enjoy the playground for many years to come," O'Brien told the gathering, which numbered in the hundreds.

The creation of the tot lot is the second phase of the redevelopment of the former PennDOT maintenance building and storage yard at Broad and Doyle streets.

Once an eyesore, the borough acquired the land and redeveloped the property with a new borough hall, police station and Broad Commons Park.

The third phase is expected to include a picnic area at Broad Commons near the corner of Doyle and Broad.

"Broad Street is now a gateway for our residents and visitors and this investment will improve the borough culturally, aesthetically and economically over many, many generations," said State Rep. Tim Brennan, of the redevelopment project. "This (new tot lot) is a wonderful space for our kids and it is a capstone to the exceptional work that has been done. We are very lucky for the unrelenting effort of our borough officials in our community to make this happen."

The cost of the $574,000 project is being paid for with tax dollars, a $250,000 grant secured by State Sen. Steve Santarsiero and individual contributions from three legacy donors - Chris and Whitney Chandor, Matt and Lisa Peruto Broad and Carolyn and Curtis Cowgill.

"If there is any truer measure of a person than by what they do, is by what they give. And these donors have given generously," said Brennan.

Matt Broad, who joined the Cowgill's and the Chandor's in helping to cut the ribbon on the new tot lot, said he and his wife are "honored to be a part of the grand opening of this park this evening.

"This thoughtfully, inclusively created playground is an extension of the arts and culture that Doylestown offers," Broad continued. "We look forward to enjoying this playground and the entire park with our friends, our family and all of you.

"In the words of Dr. Seuss," he added, "'If you have 'em, I will entertain 'em.' We hope this playground entertains kids of all ages, visiting or living in our community, for many years to come," said Broad.

(Photos by Jeff Werner)

Taking a peek inside.

Doylestown Borough Councilman Curtis Cowgill, a legacy donor.

Legacy donor Matt Broad.

Legacy donor Chris Chandor.