Weccacoe Playground renovations began this week

Weccacoe Playground has been set for renovations for some time now, but once the historical burial ground was discovered on the site, plans became delayed.

After much debate over the future of this community space on the 400 block of Catharine St., it was decided in February that construction would move forward in a respectable manner to preserve this historical burial ground. As of Monday, March 28, the park closed for construction to begin on the site. 

Renovations for this park space will include new play equipment, part of the tennis courts being renovated, new benches and trash cans, fencing repairs, a spray park, storm water management improvements and more. You can see the layout of the playground’s planned improvements above.

Under this playground is a burial ground of as many as 5,000 people from the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in the 1800′s. The location has since been added to the National Register of Historic Places

The improved playground space should reopen in the fall. If you live in the area, be advised that construction will be occurring Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parking along Catharine Street between Leithgow and Lawrence is designated for construction vehicles only.