A state grant will pay for a new opportunity for children to get physical fitness and socialization opportunities in the outdoors in Middlesex.

In an era overshadowed by a pandemic that has caused people to distance themselves from one another, and at a time when so many children spend much of their time on electronic gadgets when they’re not in school, this sounds like great news to us.

A $204,500 grant from the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will finance the construction of a playground at the old baseball field dugouts on Browns Hill Road in Middlesex Township Community Park.

The project will include the construction of a pedestrian walkway, installation of play equipment with safety surfacing, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access, landscaping, a sign and other improvements.

Work on the walkway is expected to begin this fall, while the project’s finishing touches will be completed in spring 2023.

Township manager Adam Hartwig said ADA access was a high priority for the project.

“There’s not something like that around here, and that’s not good; that’s not what we want,” he said. “We need to provide something for everybody to use.”

We agree — and believe that the playground would be a benefit for everyone who uses it.

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided major hurdles for county children’s socialization as classes went back and forth from remote to in-person, and children — like most people — were asked to socially distance themselves from others at various points during the pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus.

On the other hand, the pandemic provided an opportunity for children to spend more time outdoors, especially during times when indoor events were limited during COVID-19. A new community playground could help build on children’s interest in spending more time outdoors.

Studies of recent years have found that modern children spend an inordinate amount of time on their devices — whether it’s a computer or a smartphone — or watching TV and playing video games, and much less time than previous generations spending time outdoors.

The Middlesex Township Community Park will be a great opportunity to encourage exercise and socialization skills for all those who use it. We look forward to its debut next year.

— NCD