News Department

Officials celebrate ribbon cutting ceremony for new playground at Netcong Borough Park

NETCONG BOROUGH, NJ (Morris County) – Officials and community members gathered at DiRenzo Park earlier this month to cut the ribbon on Netcong’s new playground.

The ceremony was attended by Netcong Borough Mayor Elmer Still, former Mayor and current Councilman Joseph Nametko, Councilman Jack Sylvester, Councilman Robert Hathaway, Councilman Joseph Albensi and Councilman Todd Morton.  Distinguished guests included NJ Assemblyman Michael Inganamort, Netcong DPW Superintendent Micheal Canfield, Assistant Netcong DPW Timothy Hess, and Netcong Recreation Members Joseph DiRenzo, Jessica Parks, Netcong Recreation President Kim Albensi, and recreation member Maria Jones.

The family of Joseph DiRenzo, of whom the park is dedicated to, was also in attendance and his daughter Sandra gave a speech before the ribbon was cut.

(Photo: (L-R) Michael Canfield (Netcong Superintendent of Public Works), Netcong Mayor Elmer Still, Councilman Joseph Albensi, Netcong Recreation President Kim Albensi, and Assemblyman Micheal Iganamort. Credit | Shannon Bock via Todd Morton)

“We couldn’t be more proud and excited for the opening of our new beautiful playground. This new playground replaces a twenty-five-year-old playground that more than outlived it life expectancy. The playground features two separate areas, on for the bigger kids and one for the toddlers,” said Netcong Borough Council Liaison to the Netcong Recreation Todd Morton.

Recreation President Kim Albensi brought the idea of replacing the playground to something more modern to her Recreation commission back in 2022 when she became president and it is finally coming to fruition now, Morton said.

“The playground equipment cost $148,168 and installation of the equipment and new pour-in-place rubber flooring cost $145,628,” Morton said.

The project was being funded in part by a $76,000 grant from a 2023 Local Recreation Improvement Grant administered by the Department of Community Affairs. Remaining funds were provided by the Borough Capital Budget and funding raising efforts by the Netcong Recreation Commission, Morton said.

The new playground is slightly bigger. It has two play structures and dedicated features for smaller children which did not exist with the previous playground, Morton said.

“I would like to think Former Mayor Nametko for helping Recreation with getting the process started and current Mayor Still for seeing it through to completion with us. I would also line to offer a huge thank you our Netcong DPW for all of the hard work in the demolition of the old playground and for all of their assistance in getting the new one ready to open after completion,” Morton said.

Jay Edwards

Born and raised in Northwest NJ, Jay has a degree in Communications and has had a life-long interest in local radio and various styles of music. Jay has held numerous jobs over the years such as stunt car driver, bartender, voice-over artist, traffic reporter (award winning), NY Yankee maintenance crewmember and peanut farm worker. His hobbies include mountain climbing, snowmobiling, cooking, performing stand-up comedy and he is an avid squirrel watcher. Jay has been a guest on America’s Morning Headquarters,program on The Weather Channel, and was interviewed by Sam Champion.

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