Government

Lavallette Awarded $489K for ‘Inclusive’ Playground; Chandler Field Work to Begin Shortly

by
Daniel Nee
July 10, 2025

The proposed Jake’s Law playground at Chandler Field, Lavallette, N.J. (Credit: Lavallette Borough)

Lavallette has been awarded $489,000 in state funding to an “inclusive” playground, making the town one of the final recipients of the prestigious grant under what is known as “Jake’s Law.” Meanwhile, a project to improve the baseball diamond at Chandler Field – where the playground will be located – is also moving forward.

The playground has been planned for several months at Chandler Field, with the borough having decided to move forward with the lengthy application process earlier this year. The idea behind an “inclusive” playground is to combine attractions that are fun for all children, but still accessible to those with disabilities. Historically, general-use playgrounds were largely inaccessible to children with handicaps, while those that were accessible usually had purpose-built equipment that did not appeal to typical children, effectively keeping the two groups from playing together.

The borough received a total grant of $489,000 from the Jake’s Law fund, with a local contribution of $163,000 that will come in the form of a 20 year loan at zero interest. The project will cost $652,000 in total. Councilwoman Joanne Filippone said borough officials just completed a pre-construction meeting to plan the overall project, which will replace the current playground setup at the field.

Chandler Field, Lavallette, N.J. (Photo: Shorebeat)

The proposed Jake’s Law playground at Chandler Field, Lavallette, N.J. (Credit: Lavallette Borough)

“We’re ready to purchase the equipment that needs to go there,” said Filippone. “We haven’t awarded the contract for that yet, but it’s coming.”

The playground is expected to be built by the spring of 2026. It is set to include:

Improved safety fencing.
Quiet play areas for neurodiversity.
Shaded areas.
Rubber Safety Surfacing.
Accessible playground equipment.
Sensory playground equipment.
ADA Parking Spaces.
ADA Curb Cuts/sidewalks/sitting areas.

Chandler Field’s other project – improvements to the baseball diamond – will begin shortly. Lavallette awarded a contract for the work this spring, and construction is slated to begin in the coming days.

The project, designed by Van Cleef Engineering, calls for removing and replacing the infield dirt and clay mix to prevent any ponding of water after rain events, installing covers over new dugouts and constructing fenced-in areas where hitters can practice their swings. Its funding is derived from joint contributions from the borough and the Lavallette school district.

Chandler Field, Lavallette, N.J. (Photo: Shorebeat)

The year-long effort to plan and design the upgrades came after Lavallette was awarded a state grant for about $60,000, which would not have covered the estimated $327,000 project. Instead, officials have decided to break the project into two phases, the first of which will cost $69,500. The contract was awarded to T.C. Landscaping, which submitted the lowest qualifying bid.

“The field itself – the infield – is a joint project with the school that is to begin work on or about July 15,” said Filippone. “It might even be a little bit earlier. We did require a hard end to the [construction] project by Aug. 15.”