Kids Castle, the iconic eight-story play structure located in Doylestown Township’s Central Park (425 Wells Road), will reopen to the public on Sunday, September 29, with a celebration from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., after nearly six months of being closed.
Made of wood and built seventeen years ago, Doylestown Township’s annual safety audit determined Kids Castle had reached its lifespan and needed immediate attention or would need to close forever.
The Save Kids Castle initiative was formed in response to this audit and the Friends of Kids Castle, the organization overseeing the initiative, spearheaded a three-phase plan to restore the castle and expand its use over the next decade.
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The newly refurbished castle has been power washed and stained, and new decks, cargo nets, and roofing have been installed. Six new entrances have been built, which include rock-climbing bridges, a fireman’s pole, and a new smaller slide. New flooring has been placed throughout the castle, and two new large “racing twisty slides,” sponsored by the Byers Foundation, have been installed.
Volunteers have refurbished original artwork, and local artists and groups have created new artwork. Finally, the grounds have been regraded and 400-cubic-yards of specially engineered wood fibers were added to make it as safe as possible.
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Come and join the Friends of Kids Castle committee members for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 29, as they officially open this beloved Bucks County landmark. Crafts, music, entertainment and more, will also be part of the afternoon’s festivities.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the successful completion of Phase I of the three-phase project. The committee members of the Save Kids Castle initiative have been working hard since last August to raise awareness and funds to complete the initial phase. Many local businesses, including Zaveta Construction, Pro-Coat Painting, Munn Roofing, and SofterWare, Inc., have donated their time and services to off-set the cost of repairs.
The Friends of Kids Castle have nearly reached the Phase I fundraising goal of $150,000. More than 800 individuals, groups, and businesses have contributed thus far to the project. It continues to be a grassroots effort.
Lauren Sheehan, chair for The Friends of Kids Castle, said, “It’s been amazing to see how the community has come together to support this playground. The local businesses, schools, students, and volunteers have stepped up in many ways and should be proud of what they’ve helped accomplish.”
Named by the children of Doylestown Township, through an art contest in 1996, the castle was primarily built without the use of taxpayer dollars through volunteer community effort. Saving Kids Castle involves families, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, individuals, neighbors, businesses, organizations, and schools.
Continued support is needed as Phase I is wrapped up and Phase II begins. Plans call for installation of additional playground equipment designed for younger children, as well as handicap accessible pieces to be as inclusive as possible. The bar has been set high, as it will require an overall fundraising campaign of more than $600,000 to complete.
Jon Biedermann, finance director for the Friends of Kids Castle, said, “While $600,000 is a very large sum, it’s necessary to make sure the playground is 100 percent inclusive to children of all ages and abilities. We've decided to set a standard in our community by making this goal come true. As such, we’ll need to be able to count on the extreme generosity of our community to make this a reality, so that every child, regardless of ability, can play together as one.”
To find out how you can help Save Kids Castle, and information about Phases II and III and their opening and closing dates, please visit SaveKidsCastle.org.
