New Special Needs Children's Playground to Open Saturday

The Manalapan Recreation Center is holding a grand opening for the new Tot Lot playground, which is geared towards children with special needs, on Saturday at 10 a.m. 

This new playground is located on the Dreyer Tract, next to the snack bar and bathroom building, within the Manalapan Recreation Center. The playground has been funded in part by the Michael Allen Davidson Foundation. 

The foundation chose to honor Manalapan Township with the over $24,000 donation and the Manalapan Township Committee matched the donation, according to Mona Cholowinski, the Manalapan Parks and Recreation Superintendent.

The Michael Allen Davidson Foundation was created in memory of Michael Davidson, who lost his life on September 11, 2001 in the World Trade Center attacks. The foundation was established in Davidson's memory to help students in need who were raised by a single parents and to update and build outdoor recreation facilities for children, according to the organization's website. 

"The MAD 9/11 Foundation aims to address the need for social, economic and religious tolerance through the education of our youth coupled with the restoring of recreation facilities in remembrance of those lost," Cholowinski said. 

The foundation chooses to donate to a new Tot Lot every year. All are welcome to attend the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new special needs children playground this Saturday at 10 a.m.