Work will begin on November 19 to remove the existing playground at Ardsley Park to make way for the installation of a new playground. 

Removal of old playground equipment: November 19 – November 29
Begin installing new equipment: December 2

Installation should take about 2 weeks.  Removal and installation timeframes are dependent on weather and may change.  The playground will remain closed from November 19 through the end of the installation.

Given recent national school shooting events and supply chain challenges, the Township is taking immediate Parks operational measures to make the daycare facility within the Ardsley Community Center more secure. The health and safety of the children is of the upmost priority and the Township is taking every precaution necessary. As such, the Ardsley Community Center Parks and Recreation Office will be moving its operations to the Alverthorpe Manor Office. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. We will post regular updates on the status of the reopening of the Ardsley office on our website at www.abingtonpa.gov/PR. 

In the interim, all Parks and Recreation services will be offered at Alverthorpe Manor located at 515 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown PA 19046, 2nd Floor. Alverthorpe Manor is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Directions can be found by clicking here. Should you need any accommodation, please contact our Parks and Recreation Office at 215-576-5213.  

Thank you.

At the July 14, 2022, Board of Commissioners meeting, the Board approved awarding the proposal for consulting services for planning and design services needed for the construction of an inclusive park and playground to Engineering & Land Planning Associates, Inc.

An inclusive playground incorporates physical, cognitive, social, sensory, and communicative elements to enhance the play of children who have different abilities and removes the barriers that limit their experiences. Physical elements offer opportunities from engaging hands and fingers for fine motor skills to using the entire body for agility and balance. These elements are also designed to enhance coordination and improve endurance.

Cognitive elements present problem-solving that requires strategy to participate in successful play and benefits early childhood cognitive development. Social and communicative elements present scenarios for children to interact, exchange ideas and build relationships. The play environment allows verbal and non-verbal children to share their imaginations and creativity through cooperative play. Sensory elements include the sights, sounds, and feel of the playground. These elements are the connections between the children and the play equipment, and they engage and strengthen visual, auditory, and tactile senses.

This project will kick off in July 2022 and is expected to ready for construction in Spring of 2024.

To view the RFP, please click here.

To view Engineering & Land Planning Associates, Inc. proposal, please click here.

 For updates, please visit the Inclusive Park and Playground webpage by clicking here. 

At the July 14, 2022, Board of Commissioners meeting, the Board approved awarding the proposal for planning consulting services for the creation of a Recreation, Park, and Open Space Plan to Simone Collins, Inc. Landscape Architecture.

The Comprehensive Recreation, Park, and Open Space Plan and associated process shall include the following components as outlined and described on pages 2 through 9 of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’s COMPREHENSIVE RECREATION, PARK, AND OPEN SPACE PLAN Guidelines and Example Scope of Work found in Appendix A:

A narrative report with all supporting documents and information included as an appendix:

• “Executive Summary – Briefly describe the process, priorities, and final recommendations.
• Purpose, Goals, and Objectives
• Public Participation
• Background Information
• Agency Mission Statement, Goals, and Objectives
• Agency Administration
• Agency Personnel
• Facilities and Open Space Inventory and Analysis
• Facilities and Equipment Maintenance
• Recreation Programs and Services
• Financing
• Recommendations and Cost Estimates
• Plan Implementation”

To view the RFP, click here.

To view the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’s COMPREHENSIVE RECREATION, PARK, AND OPEN SPACE PLAN Guidelines and Example Scope of Work, click here.

To view Simone Collins proposal, click here.

Click here to view the Recreation, Park, and Open Space Plan webpage.