Getting outdoors is important. And physical activity is a key component of development. But nothing beats play.

Jaycee Park, located at 1031 Edgemoor Court in the southeastern portion of Manheim Township, is a great many things to a great many people. But first and foremost, it is a playground.

Jaycee Park was recently reopened for public use following the completion of a more-than-three-year, $750,000 renovation project. The modernization reaffirms Manheim Township's commitment to health and well-being and ensures local families will have a place to go to recreate well into the future.

"Playgrounds are for kids. The park is for everyone," said Matt Stopa, Manheim Township's recreation director. "It's important to just get outside. But there are a lot of social benefits to it as well."

The rehabilitation of the 2.4-acre Jaycee Park was accomplished in two phases. The initial phase, which covered the basketball court and a pavilion, was completed in 2019.

The final phase, which was finished in November of 2022, addressed the playgrounds, the walking paths, a tot lot, the picnic shelters and a path providing access to the creek. Original plans for the renovation stretch back to 2015, and Stopa said that public input was considered when the plans were being formulated.

"We try to maintain our parks," said Stopa. "It wasn't in terrible shape. The equipment was older. It was more updating."

Manheim Township has no way of quantifying the number of visitors to the traditional neighborhood park, but Stopa said that Jaycee Park is heavily used by citizens who live nearby.

"That neighborhood does use that park pretty often," said Stopa. "It's a neighborhood park. It's designed for people to be able to walk to. It's for the families. We're trying to make more things to do for families. They can come and picnic there, and I see a lot of adults using the walking path. They utilize the creek."

"It's open to the public, but the primary users are the people who live in the neighborhood," he added.

The history of Jaycee Park dates back several decades, perhaps as far back as the 1960s.

"I think it plays an important role in that community," said Stopa. "People can come together and socialize there. It allows them to be together and see their neighbors."

Through the efforts of its recreation department, Manheim Township operates and maintains a total of 13 parks, not all of which feature playgrounds. Jaycee is one of the township's cozier parks.

"We think we have a good parks system," said Stopa. "We have a dedicated work staff, and I think they do a fantastic job. They (the parks) look good and well kept. We try to (host programs) in them. The township likes to invest money in them."

"We try to provide the best parks we can," concluded Stopa. "We want the residents of Manheim Township to enjoy the parks. We do care about what the residents want to see in their parks. Jaycee Park deserved the opportunity to be rehabilitated."