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Sunbury secures GameTime demonstration designation for JR Smith; committee explores 'Pathways for Play' and T‑Mobile grant
Summary
Parks staff said JR Smith Park received a GameTime/PlayCore national demonstration site award tied to playground equipment funding; the committee also discussed small 'play pockets' for GRE and pursuing a T‑Mobile Hometown grant with a March 31 deadline requiring letters of support.
Sunbury staff told the Parks and Recreation Committee that JR Smith Park’s playground will be included as a GameTime/PlayCore national demonstration site. The packet included renderings and an award letter; staff said the grant supports equipment purchases and puts the park on a national map of demonstration sites.
"That is what our playground will look like," staff said as she showed a rendering, adding the design incorporates accessible elements. Committee members favored a natural color palette (greens, browns, beiges) partly because lighter tones stay cooler in sun-exposed play areas.
Staff also proposed a related idea—small, themed "play pockets" along GRE’s trail system under the Pathways for Play program, designed to add climbing or interactive pieces at intervals to encourage families to walk the trails. The committee discussed site placement that would avoid disturbing mature trees and noted one existing concrete pad that could serve as an installation site.
Separately, staff flagged the T‑Mobile Hometown grant (program start cited in 2021) with a March 31 deadline. The packet described program totals and noted towns may receive up to $50,000; shovel-ready projects and up to five letters of support are typically required. Staff said the city is already preparing designs and a budget and is working on letters of support.
Next steps include finalizing playground designs and renderings for council review, pursuing letters of support for the T‑Mobile grant if the committee wants to apply for play pockets at GRE, and coordinating with the contractor regarding equipment procurement tied to the GameTime award.
