Cumberland County Plans Inclusive Park for Children With Developmental Disabilities

Vineland's long-planned special needs park at the Joseph E. Romano Youth Sports Complex on Maple Avenue is finally becoming a reality, with a groundbreaking ceremony set for April 13 that will launch construction on a facility years in the making.

The project, known as Jake's Park, has been on the city's radar since 2023 and is expected to open in 2026. The all-inclusive special needs park is modeled after the nationally recognized Jake's Place in Cherry Hill and has been in the planning stages since early 2021.

The final design includes eight distinct areas, seven of which feature various types of inclusive playground equipment and a sensory garden for children and adults on the autism spectrum. Most of these areas are covered by permanent canopies to protect from the elements. The eighth area is an aquatic splash play area. All-inclusive exercise circuit stations will also be installed around the existing Ernie D. Marcacci running and walking track.

The site will also offer amenities such as picnic tables, benches, and improved parking to ensure accessibility for visitors. The park was designed by Cape May engineering firm Van Note-Harvey Associates.

Funding for the project flows through New Jersey's Green Acres program. The Joseph E. Romano Sports Complex in Vineland received a grant to develop an inclusive playground and sensory garden, exercise circuit stations around the existing running and walking track, and to construct restrooms. As part of that same statewide round, Green Acres provided $7.4 million to counties for development of Completely Inclusive Playgrounds under Jake's Law.

Mayor Anthony Fanucci has championed the project since its inception. "Ultimately, we want this to be a place where children can play together with their peers, family, friends, and neighbors without experiencing physical or social barriers to inclusion," Fanucci said.

The groundbreaking will bring together Mayor Fanucci, members of City Council, city staff, and community leaders for the official ceremony at the Romano Sports Complex. The complex, located at 1911 Maple Ave. in northeastern Vineland, currently hosts soccer fields, a baseball field, a walking track, a football field, and an all-purpose field. Jake's Park will expand that footprint into Cumberland County's first dedicated inclusive recreation space of its kind.