For Immediate Release:
November 12, 2009
Tony’s Place is the new place to have fun
Play space for children of all abilities opens at oceanfront park
LONG BRANCH, NJ –Children of all ages and abilities have a brand new spot to play at the county’s Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park.
It’s called Tony’s Place and it’s a wheelchair-friendly playground where everyone can laugh, play, grow and learn while climbing, rolling or pulling themselves through or along ramps, tubes and other specially designed play apparatus.
“A new playground is a fantastic way to honor and remember Dr. Anthony Musella’s desire and commitment to provide opportunities for all of our citizens to get outside and recreate,” said Monmouth County Freeholder Lillian G. Burry, liaison to the county’s Board of Recreation Commissioners. “He worked tirelessly to make Challenger Place at Dorbrook Recreation Area a reality and the first public, barrier-free playground in state. We honor him with the opening of a similar facility at Tony’s Place.”
Tony’s Place includes elevated surfaces that are accessible to those in wheelchairs, Braille signs for the visually impaired and other areas where children of varied abilities can play together. The 13,250 square foot facility opened Nov. 7 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“This grand opening celebration is a result of the hard work and dedication of Margo and Paul Hooker to the youth of Monmouth County,” said Ed Loud, chairman of the Board of Recreation Commissioners. “They are the driving force behind making both of the county’s barrier-free playgrounds a reality. We are grateful to have known ‘Doc’ and thankful for his friendship with Margo and Paul.”
Musella served on the county recreation board for 13 years, including a term as the board’s vice chairman. Musella passed away in 2006 after losing a battle with cancer.
Members of Musella’s family joined the county freeholders, recreation commissioners and the Hooker family to cut the ribbon that officially opened the playground.
“Tony would have been quite pleased that another playground has been created for all the children in our county,” said Maryann Musella, Dr. Musella’s wife. “I think he may have even had a hand in giving us the beautiful sunny weather on this November day.”
Tony’s Place replaces and expands the park’s previous playground and is part of the Park System’s ongoing program of upgrading and improving playgrounds to comply with access requirements and safety standards.
“The Park System works to provide us with safe, clean and environmentally friendly places to recreate,” Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrow said. “This particular playground is even more meaningful because it is named for someone who cared about and understood the needs of individuals with disabilities. Tony Musella left a legacy that we are very proud to honor and carry forward.”
Tony’s Place is the second universally accessible playground and joint venture project of the county Park System, Challenged Youth Sports, Inc. and the Friends of the Parks.
Challenged Youth Sports, a non-profit, recreational sports program for children with disabilities, was founded in 1990 by Margo and Paul Hooker. The Middletown-based group believes children of all abilities love to play and they work hard to assure all children get the opportunity.
The construction cost of Tony’s Place was $633,700. Individual and group donations in the amount of $140,000 of to Challenged Youth Sports and $12,000 from the Friends of the Monmouth County Parks were used to offset the construction costs.
The playground and the park are open every day of the year from 8 a.m. to dusk.
Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park is the only county-operated ocean beach in New Jersey. It provides a mile of access to the Atlantic Ocean and is home to the county’s popular year-round Skateplex for skateboarders and in-line skaters. The park is named for the U.S. presidents who made Long Branch the nation’s “summer capital” from the late 1860s through the 1920s. The seven presidents were (in chronological order) Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Harrison, McKinley and Wilson.
The county Park System welcomes over 5 million visitors each year to its playgrounds, trails, golf facilities, recreation programs and more. To find out more about the Monmouth County Park System, call 732-842-4000, ext. 4312, TDD (732) 291-9484 or log onto www.monmouthcountyparks.com, email info@monmouthcountyparks.com or write to 805 Newman Springs Rd, Lincroft, NJ 07738.
# # #