Camden County honors Jake’s Place founders as third inclusive playground planned in New Camden

The Camden County Board of Commissioners presented a proclamation recognizing Jim and Lynn Cummings for their work founding Jake's Place, a nonprofit that builds inclusive playgrounds for children with disabilities.

Director Cappelli presented the proclamation and asked Commissioner Nash to join him in honoring the couple. Commissioner Fleischer and others described the program’s impact, noting that Cherry Hill and Winslow Township already have Jake’s Place playgrounds and that the county is building a third site in New Camden. Meeting remarks referenced state funding described in the session as the 'Banks Law' as having helped recent projects.

Jim and Lynn Cummings accepted the proclamation on behalf of their family and the volunteers who raised initial funds. Lynn Cummings said the organization became a nonprofit around 2008 and the first playground opened in 2011; the couple described community fundraising as grassroots, telling the board, “We accept it on behalf of our family because, you know, we're really cofounders with our daughter and son-in-law,” and later, “It's been our joy.”

Commissioners highlighted the park’s role in enabling children with special needs to play alongside others and praised county staff and partners, including parks department personnel and Deputy Director Ed McDonald, for long-running support. The proclamation concluded with the board’s thanks and well-wishes for the Cummings’ retirement.

The county did not provide full technical details or a project schedule for the New Camden playground during the meeting; the state funding reference (called 'Banks Law' in the meeting) was noted by speakers but no statute citation or appropriation amount was given.