Burlington County’s Rainbow Meadow Park in Delran will get a significant upgrade that is expected to transform the former peach farm into one of South Jersey’s most scenic and family-friendly outdoor destinations.
County commissioners voted last month to use some funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act to cover the cost of extending public sewerage to the 126-acre park property, which will enable the county to build a new restroom there.
Other planned improvements include an expanded parking lot, construction of new accessible trails and creekside amenities and a new family-friendly area with games like table tennis and foosball.
Among the preliminary improvement plans envisioned for the park are:
- An additional 2.5 miles of accessible asphalt trails through the park, continuing the county’s Rancocas Creek Greenway, part of the greater Philadelphia region’s Circuit Trail network, plus 1.25 miles of special woodland and turf trails.
- Creekside amenities, including two fishing docks, an accessible kayak launch and three overlook decks.
- Large and small event lawns for concerts and other events.
- A family games area with numerous new features, including chess and checkers tables, a hammock lounge area, a rain garden and a barbecue area with grills and picnic tables.
The county’s plans also incorporate the Farmers Against Hunger’s headquarters at the park. The commissioners entered into an agreement with the nonprofit in 2020 so the latter can use a 3-acre parcel of the property and former farmstand building for its operations, including activities promoting land stewardship and agriculture.
As part of its mission, the group is also developing working crop fields and teaching gardens at the park to grow produce that can be donated to needy families in the region.
Design and permitting for the sewer extension have already been completed by Delran. The township has agreed to bid for construction of the line and the county will reimburse the town for the expense.
