Summit is raising money to redesign Memorial Playground at Soldiers Memorial Field, launching a fundraising campaign that runs through October after a community survey closed Aug. 1.

The campaign supplements the $200,000 the Common Council approved for playground improvements as part of the 2025 Capital Budget. The City of Summit said on its official Facebook page that the redesign will incorporate athletic and obstacle-course-like elements, creating a unique experience that complements the city's other playgrounds.

The stakes are real. How much the campaign raises will determine whether the redesign proceeds all at once or in phases, according to earlier TAPinto reporting.

The Brayton School PTO, whose families use the playground regularly, is actively promoting the fundraising effort to the school community. Brayton School sits at 89 Tulip St., adjacent to the field.

Councilwoman Chantal Landman reminded residents at an early August Common Council meeting that the $200,000 had been approved and that the city had recently surveyed the community on how those funds should be used, TAPinto reported.

At that same meeting, Summit High School rising junior Cameron Aronson presented the history of Soldiers Memorial Field during the council's "Historical Minute." The field was established in the early 1900s following World War I as a living memorial to local veterans and now hosts baseball and softball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, a running track and open green spaces.

"While it was originally created to honor the brave men and women who served our country, it has become the site of some of the most important green spaces, sports fields, and recreation centers in our community," Aronson told the council on Aug. 2, as reported by TAPinto.

The playground project fits into a broader city push to upgrade recreation spaces. "By the end of this year, we'll have three brand-new playgrounds in Summit," Assistant Director of Community Programs David Guida told the Common Council on July 25, referring to Mabie Playground, the recently reopened Tatlock Playground and a planned East Summit neighborhood playground, according to TAPinto.

No specific fundraising dollar goal or donation link has been publicly announced. The October deadline is the only confirmed milestone ahead.