Limerick Township plans rebuild for Manderach Playground

LIMERICK — Township supervisors have expressed a preference for a contractor to rebuild a new Manderach Memorial Playground, to have it be more accessible and inclusive of children with different needs, and to have it all done in time for the township’s 300th anniversary celebration next year.

However, the proposal by General Recreation of Newtown Square is about $1 million than the $1.5 million township has budgeted for the project.

An aerial view of Manderach Playground as it is today tops the Limerick Township’s Parks and Recreation Department Facebook page. (Photo by Limerick Township)

Four companies responded to the township’s request for proposals, and the committee appointed to review them forwarded two to the supervisors for their input. They were General Recreation and River Valley Recreation, located in Wrightsville, York County.

River Valley Recreation offered more than one plan.

An overview of a proposal for a new Manderach Memorial Playground as proposed by River View Recreation. (Image courtesy of Limerick Township)

One, a less extensive layout, cost $1.8 million, closer to the township’s original budget. The second, more extensive plan was estimated at $2.4 million, but in both of this company’s designs, the top sections were less accessible to handicapped children, although they complied with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, the supervisors decided.

Limerick Supervisors said too much of River View Recreations' plan for a new Manderach Memorial Playground would not be handicapped accessible. (Image courtesy of Limerick Township)

However, the River Valley equipment had a “much higher-level warranty” than the General Recreation equipment and had virtually guaranteed it would meet the deadline in time for the August 2026 Tricentennial, Township Manager Dan Kerr told the board. “Frankly, I don’t think we’d go wrong with either company,” Kerr said.

One of the central aspects of the preferred design for the new Manderach Memorial Playground is a central ramp that provides access to all levels of the central piece of equipment. (Image courtesy of Limerick Township)

The supervisors reviewed the two options at the July 15 meeting.

“I like the one with the full ramp (up to the top), it provides more accessibility,” said Commissioner Patrick Morroney.

Kerr said the township already has a $30,000 grant from the former Pottstown Area Health and Wellness Foundation, now the Pottstown Regional Community Foundation, toward the project.

This image shows a piece of spinning play equipment that is wheelchair accessible. (Image courtesy of Limerick Township)

He said both state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-146th Dist., and state Sen. Tracey Pennycuick, R-24th Dist., said they would pursue additional state funding, outside of the usual sources, which can take as long as two years, “to help bridge the gap” between the budget and the higher cost of the preferred vendor.

Morroney suggested looking outside government for funding, like contacting the Philadelphia Eagles.

“But then we could start seeing buses bringing more people coming to our community park,” said Supervisor Michael McCloskey.

“That can happen right now without anyone giving us a penny,” Supervisor Kara Shuler replied.

Part of the design for the new Manderach Memorial Playground favored by the township supervisors includes play equipment that makes sounds and has different tactile feels for those on the autism spectrum. (Image courtesy of Limerick Township)

“I’m confident we can work out the funding,” Kerr said.

“Well, it’s certainly not going to get any cheaper,” said Supervisor Ken Sperring Jr.

Supervisor Linda Irwin, who is the board’s liaison to the Tricentennial effort, said the new playground “will certainly be a nice showcase for our town.”

Ultimately, the consensus was to try to get General Recreation’s plan “as close to $2.4 million as possible.” Final approval on a plan is scheduled to take place on Aug. 5.

Manderach Memorial Playground was opened in 1998 to commemorate the lives of Lisa and Devon Manderach, who were murdered in 1995 while visiting a local clothing store.

But at 27 years old, and years of heavy use, some of the equipment is beginning to fail, and maintenance on some of the wood components is becoming prohibitively expensive. The decision was made to replace it with something new, and with equipment that is more accessible to children with disabilities and user-friendly to those on the autism spectrum, which the current equipment is not.

The township plans to close the playground on Nov. 1 to do the site work and then to install the new equipment to have the playground ready for the tricentennial in August 2026.