IMPROVED PLAYGROUND IN STONE HARBOR RE-OPENS FOR HOLIDAY WEEKEND
Formal opening ceremony set for June 14
STONE HARBOR, N.J. — (MAY 23, 2025)—Just in time for the Memorial Day weekend and start of the summer season, Stone Harbor’s improved 96th Street playground will be available for borough residents and visitors to use this weekend. The park was closed last year due to deteriorated equipment and related safety concerns.
This weekend’s playground access will introduce the facility’s improvements before a formal inauguration set for June 14.
The playground improvements include new slides, benches, and other equipment and surface modifications. While the new equipment is now available for use, construction and installation work continues on adjacent bocce and basketball courts which are expected to be ready in time for the June 14 ceremony.
A second phase of improvements is planned for later this year with construction of a new recreation office and public restrooms. The improvements are largely funded by a $1.2 million grant from Cape May County.
Mayor Tim Carney acknowledged the support of borough council, Cape May County and construction crews, all of whom worked to complete as many site improvements as possible in time for the holiday weekend. “Everyone will enjoy the improvements completed to date, and we can look forward to more progress in the next few weeks and through the year,” he predicted.
“Our formal ceremony next month will showcase the full extent of improvements and the efforts of so many people who made it possible.”
Borough Council Member Victor Foschini, chair of the council’s Recreation and Tourism committee, applauded progress in returning the playground to public access. “We wanted to have this facility ready to go in time for our peak season, and we’re delighted to achieve that goal,” he said.
Reconstruction of another playground at 82nd Street will likely begin after the summer season with completion expected before year-end. That site will feature an all-inclusive “Jake’s Place” playground, designed to accommodate people of all ages, from toddlers to grandparents, and all abilities, including people with physical handicaps or disabilities.
Borough engineering firm DiBlasio & Associates is coordinating design and construction work for both locations.
