Factoryville volunteers help install playground equipment at Christy Mathewson Park

FACTORYVILLE — Christy Mathewson Park, located behind the Lackawanna Trail Elementary Center, will soon have three new play pockets for area children to enjoy.

Volunteers from the community gathered at the Factoryville park on Aug. 22 to install and stabilize pieces of playground equipment with cement in each of the play pockets. The crew was comprised of Sadie Rozenburg, Factoryville borough grant writer and project manager; Factoryville residents; members of the Masons Factoryville Lodge No. 341; the Factoryville Men’s Civic Club; and Aaron Klinger, a supervisor from Mosey Landscapes and Ron Johnson on behalf of the borough.

The project was funded by a $40,000 grant front the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and matching funds from the borough and the Factoryville Playground Task Force, according to Rozenburg.

“DCNR really likes that idea of getting kids in nature, so this was a way to do that,” she said. “It (the park) is right next to the elementary center and the center uses this park for special events…”

The bird, tree and bees-themed play areas also offer children hands-on learning opportunities.

One piece of equipment in the bird play pocket, for example, is modeled after a robin’s egg. Children can also look through a telescope to watch birds in the trees.

“You can get little brochures that talk about the play pockets and give kids activities to do,” Rozenburg said. “For example, there’s one that talks about birds. They can come over, play on the equipment and learn about birds. There’s one that talks about trees and then the bees.”

Kevin Davis, a park volunteer from Factoryville and a member of the Factoryville Men’s Civic Club, has been involved with the new playgrounds project all year.

“Our primary cause is the community,” Davis said while helping to spread cement. “We’ve been working on this project all year. I own a tree service. We hopped on the opportunity to help here.”

Another park in Clinton Township is shared between that township and Factoryville Borough. “When we wrote this grant, we did not have any playgrounds,” Rozenburg said. “But since then we actually got a grant for another playground at the joint municipal park, which we’ve already put in.”

The play pocket project should be completed and open to the public by next week.

Ron Johnson, left and Paul Corby smooth out cement.

http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Mathewson2.jpg.optimal.jpgRon Johnson, left and Paul Corby smooth out cement. Joan Mead-Matsui | For Abington Journal

Sadie Rozenburg, Factoryville borough grant writer and project manager led a crew that assembled the new play pockets at Christy Mathewson Park on Aug. 22.

http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Mathewson3.jpg.optimal.jpgSadie Rozenburg, Factoryville borough grant writer and project manager lead a crew that assembled at the new play pockets at Christy Mathewson Park on Aug. 22. Joan Mead-Matsui | For Abington Journal

Martin Reynolds, Factoryville Men’s Civic Club, stabilizes a telescope in the bird play pocket.

http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Mathewson5.jpg.optimal.jpgMartin Reynolds, Factoryville Men’s Civic Club, stabilizes a telescope in the bird play pocket. Joan Mead-Matsui | For Abington Journal

Sadie Rozenburg works on the tree play pocket.

http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Mathewson6.jpg.optimal.jpgSadie Rozenburg works on the tree play pocket. Joan Mead-Matsui | For Abington Journal

The tree play pocket is part of three play areas for children recently installed at Christy Mathewson Park.

http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_Mathewson7.jpg.optimal.jpgThe tree play pocket is part of three play areas for children recently installed at Christy Mathewson Park. Joan Mead-Matsui | For Abington Journal