This drone photo shows the Hoberman Park Playground, now open for play. PHOTO PROVIDED

Abbey Roberts, planner and development coordinator, alerts Lock Haven residents that the long-awaited day has arrived: the playground at Hoberman Park is open for play!

The playground surface was laid last weekend and the building department completed the excavation and grass seeding shortly thereafter. “We ask that users please respect the newly planted grass and avoid the seeded areas,” Roberts said in a press release.

The playground was built by community members in early August with help from KABOOM! and the Pennsylvania Municipal League. Nearly 100 community members came earlier this month to assemble the playground equipment, as well as picnic tables, benches, a stage, a signpost, garden boxes and paint a mural.

“After a period of rain delays, we welcome everyone to come out and play!” the press release said.

On the day of the meeting, Roberts said the city will work on a bid process to hire a contractor to make other improvements to the park, such as a multi-purpose field, basketball court, new restrooms, pavilions, resurfacing the parking lots, relocating the T-ball field and installing a sidewalk.

“These improvements are made possible by grants from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG),” she said.