By Frank Sinatra, AAP Editor

A fun day for children of all abilities, an event celebrating Black American freedom and culture, and a poolside party for Pennsauken’s seniors helped the Township community welcome in the summer months.

Pennsauken’s Play Day At Welcome Home Jake’s Place

At the end of May, Pennsauken Township and its Parks and Recreation Department hosted an afternoon of family fun for the first-ever Pennsauken’s Play Day, held at Welcome Home Jake’s Place, located in front of the new Municipal Building/Free Public Library.

All during the event, families had a chance to play, explore, and make lasting memories. Guests lined up for rides on the trackless train, smiled with colorfully painted faces, captured a special moment with costumed characters, and enjoyed taking home balloon-twisted friends. Crafts, food trucks, and amazing music kept the fun going, while the playground echoed with joy and laughter as children climbed, swung, and raced down the slides. The event was filled with smiles, excitement, and plenty of family-friendly fun from start to finish.

“We want to thank everyone for coming out to our first Pennsauken Play Day,” said Pennsauken Mayor Patrick Olivo, who was joined by the entire Township Committee in welcoming all in attendance. “Thank you to our first responders and all of our volunteers for making this happen.”

Jake’s Place Playgrounds are built in memory of Jacob “Jake” Myles Cummings-Nasto, a young boy who loved playgrounds but faced significant challenges due to a cardiac condition. The nonprofit organization behind the project — formerly Build Jake’s Place, now known as Our View — has deep roots in Pennsauken. Founding members Jim and Lynn Cummings, Jake’s grandparents, along with Jake’s parents, Kim Cummings-Nasto and Joe Nasto, are proud residents of this community, further strengthening the Township’s connection to the mission of inclusive play.

“It’s such a beautiful day. It’s more beautiful because we have so many beautiful children here. And no one was more beautiful than our grandson, Jake,” said Lynn Cummings. “We thank Jake for only two and a half years, giving us an inspiration that now there are over 100 playgrounds in New Jersey.”

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to be here today and how glad this makes my heart. Jake would have loved it here. And every time I see kids playing here, I’m going to think of him and think of how much joy he would have had here,” added Jim Cummings. “The building of these playgrounds is not just our work; it’s the work of everybody. Every kid needs a great place to play.”

The Welcome Home Jake’s Place all-inclusive playground features open layouts, ramps, multi-sensory equipment, and traditional play structures that accommodate a wide range of physical, sensory, and developmental needs. The entire site is fully fenced and includes rubberized surfacing throughout, creating a safe and accessible environment for all users.

First-ever Juneteenth Celebration

Last month, Pennsauken celebrated equality, community, and culture during its first-ever Juneteenth Celebration. On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned that slavery was abolished in the United States and that they were free. The oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States, Juneteenth is marked by music, dance, food, and community. It also is an opportunity to reflect on African American history and culture, as well as the ongoing struggle for equality and justice for all.

“We couldn’t ask for anything better for the start of our first-ever Juneteenth Celebration,” said Pennsauken Mayor Patrick Olivo. “We’ve got some great performances and plenty of food trucks and vendors to enjoy.”

“I could not be more thrilled to be here at our first-ever Juneteenth event for Pennsauken,” said Committeewoman Nicole Roberts. “I’m so excited and I want to thank everybody who made this happen: my fellow Township Committee members, our administrator, all of our volunteers and our vendors. Thank you to our first responders; Juan Vazquez from our Parks and Recreation Department; and a special thank you to Township Clerk Pam Forman, who did a lot of hard work behind the scenes.”

“Township Committee works to put together a lot of amazing events, but it couldn’t be done without all the vendors and our residents,” said Deputy Mayor Vince Martinez. “It’s because you keep coming out that we can put on events like this.”
“I am lucky to serve with this great team. We’re always thinking about what Pennsauken and its residents need,” added Township Committee Marco DiBattista. “This is a great event for our residents. I’m grateful and thankful for not only everybody being here, but for what this day represents.”

“Mother Nature is on our side, because she gave us such a blessing today,” continued Township Committeewoman Jessica Rafeh. “We hope this is the beginning of many more Juneteenth events.”

Senior Citizen Appreciation Day

Pennsauken Township celebrated its outstanding senior citizens with a special day of fun, food, and fellowship at the Pennsauken Municipal Pool. During Senior Citizen Appreciation Day, Pennsauken residents aged 62 and older enjoyed a variety of free activities and refreshments.

“Thank you for coming out today to our annual Senior Citizen Appreciation Day here at the Pennsauken Pool,” said Mayor Patrick Olivo. “We had 250 people registered for this event and I hope you have fun in the pool and dancing to the music.”

Attendees cooled off with a dip in the pool and enjoyed sweet treats from Da’Villas Crème and Cookies. The celebration also featured music from a DJ, who kept the energy high and the dance floor busy throughout the event. The town’s first responders grilled up hot dogs and hamburgers, with Township Committee, Public Works staff, and other municipal volunteers serving up an impressive buffet. Falco, Caruso & Leonard Pennsauken Funeral Home once again provided a special tropical treat for guests to enjoy, and seniors spoke with representatives from Camden County, Trinity Health, and the Community Planning and Advocacy Council to learn about the resources they offered.

“I love this event every single year. I’m so happy that you’re here and I want you to feel really welcome and have a really good time,” said Township Committeewoman Roberts. “Thank you to our volunteers. We can’t do this without you.”

“What a wonderful day we have for our Senior Citizen Appreciation Day,” said Township Committeewoman Jessica Rafeh. “We thank you all for showing up. We do these events for you.”

“This event is just for our seniors, as a way to say thank you for what you mean to our community,” added Deputy Mayor Vince Martinez. “We have more programs for you to enjoy this summer, so we hope to see you there.”

Pennsauken Township has great community events planned throughout the year, including summer programming for senior citizens in July and August; National Night Out on Tuesday, Aug. 4; and the annual Car and Bike Show on Sunday, Sept. 13. Be sure to visit PennsaukenEvents.com and follow Pennsauken’s official social media channels for the most up-to-date information.