New playground at Anson B. Nixon Park

Posted by Rich Schwartzman on November 18, 2024

State Sen. John Kane, D-9, takes a trip down one of the slides at the new playground at Anson Nixon Park.

Politicians and members of the Kennett Area Park Authority cut the ribbon for the opening of a new playground at Anson Nixon Park on Monday. According to one member of the KAPA board, the new playground expands the park’s reach. There are swings and a 30-foot-high platform with four sliding boards.

The new playground is on the lower level of the park near the basketball courts and is geared for youngsters aged 5-12. There is already another playground on the upper level for younger kids.

Helping to make the new area possible was a $155,000 DCNR grant that came through with the help of state Sen. John Kane, D-9. Kane said he was impressed with the park from the first time he visited.

The new playground is about 30 feet high and has four sliding boards. It’s designed for kids 5-12 years of age.

“I was absolutely amazed by what a beautiful park you have here, from the ponds to the pavilions that you have,” he told a group who showed up for the ribbon cutting, “but what really took me back was the fact that you had an old boxing ring, and I used to do a lot of boxing back in my day. So, right then and there I was won over by Anson B. Nixon Park. And anything I could do to help out is what I wanted to do.”

He said he was extremely proud in being able to help get the grant money, but now, though he’s looking forward to some other uses of the park.

“Thinking of parks to take my grandson, who’s now 10 months old, this is going to be one of the great places where I’ll be spending time.”

Kennett Square Mayor Matt Fetick and Kennett Township Supervisor Pat Muller were also on hand for the ribbon cutting.

Fetick called Anson B. Nixon Park a “huge treasure for the borough,” but added, “When we continue to add opportunities for families and kids to come out and play and enjoy it, it really means a lot.”

He added that the amount of tax dollars from Kennett borough and Kennett Township residents is “not a significant amount. [KAPA] raises money.

Muller said the park is “super important to Kennett Township. Part of it’s in Kennett Township so we feel it’s part of us, part of what we can offer the community…This new structure is next-level fun. We’re really excited about it,” she said.

Also excited about the new addition is Gregory Deveney of the KAPA board.

“This was my project,” he said. “I was really excited when Sen. Kane helped us get the grant from DCNR. [There were] a couple of things we really wanted to do with it. We wanted to expand our reach. We have a lovely playground up there for the smaller children,” he said, pointing to the upper area. “But we wanted to add a little bit for the older kids."

And then he mentioned the height of the new structure.

“One of the things that went through my head was that kids just love to climb. So, we went for height. There were a lot of challenges, but it’s turned into a lovely structure,” Deveney said.

KAPA Chairman Richard Lyon said the playground was just one of several capital improvement projects totaling $500,000 for the park this year. He mentioned the park is part of the trail network that leads through the park to the YMCA. There is also a new state-of-the-art workshop, Lyon said, as well as some new plantings.

A host of dignitaries and some unexpected park visitors take part in the ribbon cutting.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.