FAQ's

1. What happened to the slide at the historic train station?
2. Will the new playgrounds have slides and swings?
3. Where will the new playgrounds be?
4. What ages will the new playgrounds be designed for?
5. Is Hopewell Borough or Hopewell Township giving any money towards this project?
6. Do we really need new playgrounds?
7. Will the new playgrounds take over the parks?
8. Who are the MOMs?

1. What happened to the slide at the historic train station?
If only we had a dollar for every time we've been asked this question, we'd be much closer to our fund-raising goal! Unfortunately, the popular slide on the hill has been removed and discarded. It no longer met the new NJ Building Code and has gone to “slide heaven.”

2. Will the new playgrounds have slides and swings?
Yes! Both playgrounds will have slides and swings as well as other playful components and fun features. You can view the new playground designs by visiting the “Playground Plans” web page. To learn which components are available for sponsorship, visit the “Donate” web page.

3. Where will the new playgrounds be?
In Hopewell Borough, at Hopewell Park (a.k.a. “Gazebo Park”) and the historic train station. The new equipment at “Gazebo Park” will cover roughly the same footprint as the existing playground. At the historic train station, the new equipment will be adjacent to the freight shed, nestled under the trees, behind the movie screen.

4. What ages will the new playgrounds be designed for?
All ages—with adult supervision—will be welcome at both new playgrounds. For diversity, the equipment at “Gazebo Park” will be designed for older children, ages 5-12. And, the historic train station will have “Tot Lot” aimed at younger children, ages 2-5.

5. Is Hopewell Borough or Hopewell Township giving any money towards this project?
That's a seemingly simple question with a complicated answer. The playground project was initiated because we saw a community need that the Borough and/or Township could not meet. In today's economy, both are struggling to meet higher priority issues involving land, roads, and housing. If they have funds available, they may contribute. However, their support and cooperation have been huge! The Playground Project Committee has formed a great collaborative partnership with the Borough; they are generously giving us all the resources they can reasonably afford.

6. Do we really need new playgrounds?
We get this question a lot especially since the Hopewell Elementary School playground is so close to “Gazebo Park.”

According the Hopewell Borough officials, the current equipment is not an immediate danger to anyone, but it will need to be removed because it no longer meets New Jersey building code.

As for the proximity to Hopewell Elementary, both “Gazebo Park” and the historic train station serve toddlers, preschool children, and home-schooled kids who wish to play outdoors during school hours as well as anyone (at anytime) who wants to play in a natural, beautifully-shaded, serene environment.

Additionally, research has demonstrated that play is crucial to a child's physical, emotional, cognitive, and social development. Experts have pronounced today's kids as the most inactive generation in history. One big reason is the decrease in the number of accessible, safe play spaces. By building new playgrounds, we can help reverse this trend.

7. Will the new playgrounds take over the parks?
No. The parks are for the whole community to enjoy! the new playgrounds are designed to be roughly the same size as existing play areas and blend into their surroundings. The trees, pathways, trails and open space will remain as they are today.

8. Who are the MOMs?
“The MOMs” refers to The MOMs Club of Titusville/Hopewell --a non-profit organization that provides a support network and daytime social outlet for at-home mothers (including those who work part-time or run an at-home business). Several women who serve on the Playground Project Committee happen to be members. The MOMs Club generously offered to partner with the Playground Project so that donations to the project are tax-deductible; the MOMs Club is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization.