Lubavitch of Bucks County held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 9 to mark the completion of Phase 1 of its PlayaRaya project, the accessible recreational park at the former site of a swim club in Northampton Township.

PlayaRaya is now operational for the Friendship Circle Day Camp, serving children with special needs, and Camp Gan Izzy, run by Lubavitch of Bucks County. Pennsylvania First Lady Lori Shapiro, an advocate for the disability community who supported the project, was on hand to cut the ribbon for the campers.

In March, PlayaRaya received a $500,000 Local Share Account grant from the state’s Commonwealth Financing Authority.

In a news release announcing the grant, Shapiro said, “I’m proud that Pennsylvania is supporting such a meaningful project like PlayaRaya. [Gov.] Josh [Shapiro] and I care deeply about making sure Pennsylvanians of all abilities can reach their full potential and have the opportunity to play and grow. They deserve our support, and here in Pennsylvania, we are working together to make sure everyone feels respected and included in our communities, in our schools and in our workplaces.”

Rabbi Yudy Shemtov, the executive director of Lubavitch of Bucks County, started looking for a site like the 890 Bridgetown Pike location because he needed a pool for his summer camps. The rabbi said it “felt amazing watching the special needs children on the first day of camp jumping into the pool and enjoying the water.”

“It was heartwarming to see everyone use it together,” he added.

That was the vision.

In December, Shemtov told Philadelphia Jewish Exponent that he wanted to create a prototype for a fully accessible park that could be used by all children. Accessibility would be seamlessly integrated into the park’s facilities. PlayaRaya, after all, is a play on the words “play your way.”

The rabbi said then he expected to have the pool, splash pad, pool building and ball pit open by the summer. On July 9, he succeeded in that goal.

The pool has been retrofitted with ramps and guardrails “so people who need that help can get in,” Shemtov said. Beyond these accessible features, the deepest part of the pool is 7 feet, while the whole facility is surrounded by fencing.

The accommodations allow around 200 campers of all abilities to enjoy playing in their own ways. The camps could also welcome more in the future.

“It’s a proof of concept,” Shemtov said. “What this is really doing is reinforcing that we should move ahead on the complete vision and replicate this across the state. That’s the goal.”

But before he moves across the whole state, the rabbi has to finish Phase 2 of the 12-acre site.

Shemtov still wants to add walking trails, fitness stations and playgrounds. He also plans to build pickleball, volleyball, basketball and tennis courts. While Phase 1 had a price tag around $2 million, Phase 2 will likely cost about $6 million.

The rabbi still needs to raise the rest of the money and get approvals from Northampton Township. He hopes to finalize the site plan early in 2027 and get approvals by the spring, and “then we can start construction,” he said.

“Once we get approvals from the township, we’ll start implementing it in phases,” he added.

After the July 9 ribbon-cutting, Shemtov started getting calls from parents of children with special needs.

“Where do I sign up?” they asked, according to the rabbi.

Upon completion of Phase 2, PlayaRaya will be available to area residents by reservation. Shemtov also has organizations and institutions that work with the special needs community, like the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, lining up as potential partners.

“This will expand the Friendship Circle to a completely different level. What’s happening now is it’s become more than a pool and recreational space. We’re collaborating with CHOP and other organizations and institutions in the special needs and physical therapy community. They need spaces to do therapies,” Shemtov told Philadelphia Jewish Exponent in December.

The rabbi also wants to make his plans available for other developers to use. He envisions a new model for inclusivity, one that doesn’t make it an add-on or an obvious difference.

“It now becomes a subtle education to people that we are all alike,” he told Philadelphia Jewish Exponent in December.

jsaffren@midatlanticmedia.com