Spring Meadows Park Playground

The Spring Meadows Park Playground opened in May 2024 and has proven to be very popular with kids big and small. The new playground was designed to be multi-generational, encouraging active play for all ages and abilities. Features include swings, slides, climbers, a wheelchair-accessible glider, ZoomTrax, spring riders, an area designated for 2-5 year olds with smaller play equipment, and exercise equipment that can be used by adults and children. Benches and picnic tables are placed around the play area and an asphalt track encircles the play equipment.

The playground is located next to Pavilion #5 in the park. It has restrooms, a drinking fountain and picnic tables under the pavilion. The pavilion was reserved for parties every weekend this summer due to the proximity to the new playground.

The design of the playground includes a natural outdoor theme with tree tops and neutral colors. Shades over the top of the climbing structures will help to keep slides and handles cooler in the summer sun. Lighter colors were chosen for the slides and seats to keep the temperatures cooler on the seated elements. The playground was designed by George Ely Associates of Carlisle.

The play area was a development module identified in the 2015 Master Development Plan for Spring Meadows Park. South Middleton Township applied for funding in 2017 for the playground and adjacent athletic fields. Delays for the pandemic and permitting slowed the project completion. The project received funding of $366,500 from a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

A variety of trees have been planted around the play area to increase the shade canopy in Spring Meadows Park. The bare root trees planted in this project were made possible by a grant from TreePennsylvania, a statewide, private non-profit organization.  TreePennsylvania offers grants to non-profit organizations and municipalities through their seasonal Bare Root Tree Grant program. Funding for TreePennsylvania's Bare Root Tree Grant program is provided, in part, with a grant from PA's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. 

The playground is one of two in the park. A smaller tot lot with elements made of logs and boulders is located in the front of the park.