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St. Paul Park Playground Upgrades Begin This Spring
By: Councilmember Conor D. Crimmins
Beginning this spring, the Town of Kensington will begin a three-phase project to upgrade the playground at St. Paul Park. This project will create a safer and more inclusive play area for all children, including those with and without disabilities. The improvements will replace the mulch ground cover underneath the playground and swing set areas with a new, level rubberized play surface, add new, inclusive pieces of play equipment, and expand the play area.
This multi-year project involves the Mayor, the Town Council, and Town Staff working together with neighborhood parents of children living with disabilities to enhance the play area at St. Paul Park so that it promotes safe and inclusive play for all children.
The three-phase project begins this spring with Phase 1, which involves removing the mulch under the swing sets, adding the new rubberized play surface under the swings, and extending it to the current playground mulch area to create a surface connection between the two play areas. Phase 1 will also include adding new playground equipment that promotes inclusive play. This phase, funded by a Maryland Department of Natural Resources FY25 Community Parks and Playgrounds grant, will take several weeks to complete.
Phase 2 will enhance the playground area by removing the mulch ground cover and replacing it with the same rubberized play surface used in Phase 1. This will create a continuous and level play surface connecting the entire playground and swing set play areas. Phase 2 is scheduled for FY26 as part of the Town’s Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) budget.
Finally, Phase 3 will see the addition of a new, inclusive play area across from the current playground and located on the interior of the park’s walking path. This new area will add several pieces of play equipment, including a multi-person swing and a rocking ‘pirate ship’ that allow access for all children and caregivers alike. Phase 3 is scheduled for FY27 as part of the Town’s CIP budget.
Please see below for additional images, renderings, and a video concept of the playground upgrades. The Town will also post a QR code around the playground at St. Paul Park so visitors can learn more about the upcoming upgrades to the park.