Playground, Swing Set Will Be Latest Additions To Quaker Penn Park

Playground equipment and a swing set will be the latest additions to Quaker Penn Park.

Falls Township officials authorized the purchase of a playground and swing set, in addition to three compost toilet facilities at their Board of Supervisors meeting earlier this month.

The playground will feature poured-in-place rubber surfacing, a slide, steering wheel, 30-inch crawl tube and swings, and could be installed as early as July. Riverfront cleanup, including the removal of dead trees to provide a better riverfront view is also planned for this summer. New picnic tables would be installed closer to the river as well.

With the addition of the so-called compost toilets, Falls Township Parks and Recreation Director Brian Andrews said the Township would save $1,000 per year in portable toilet costs. Oldcastle Precast will install three toilets, including one that’s handicap accessible. Falls would also save on maintenance costs and could cut back on the expense of running water. The facility would be relatively maintenance-free for 20 years other than adding fresh wood chips every few years.

Officials noted that the project will cost $237,180, 75 percent of which will be covered by a Bucks County open space grant – making Falls Township responsible for covering a little less than $60,000.

According to officials, new electricity will also be covered by the grant. Andrews said he would like to add street lighting at the entrance, as well as in the parking lot.

“We need light down there,” he said. “That’s always been a problem.” With the addition of the play area and restroom facility, Andrews said he envisions more residents visiting the park. “We can get more activity down there,” Andrews said. “We could get revenue from the pavilion rentals.”