A south Edison park known as "Shabbos Park" to the many Orthodox residents who frequent it on the Sabbath and holidays has received new upgraded playground equipment.

Speaking briefly at the Sept. 17 unveiling of the new equipment was Edison Mayor Jun Choi, flanked by Democratic committeepersons Rachel Callen and Vincent Guarino, community activist Dr. Israel Rivkin, and David Stern, president of Rabbi Pesach Raymon Yeshiva.

The 15-year-old Earl Schenck Miers Park is located at North Eighth Avenue and Celler Road in the heavily Orthodox neighborhood near RPRY and Congregation Ohr Torah.

It received two new swing sets, a new set of monkey bars, and an interactive jungle gym underneath a canvas sunshade. On the ground, child-safe soft mulch has been laid down. Baby swings are still to be installed.

The improvements cost $52,000, according to Choi, who added that the funds came from developer fees and not from taxpayers. He said the new elements in the park replaced old, rusting equipment.

Choi greeted those gathered at the park, most with small children who were already trying out the new equipment, with "L'shana tova."

He said that making the renovations, which was requested by the community, was the perfect way to start the new year and was part of a series of upgrades to local parks designed "to improve the life of our communities."

Guarino said the park was easily the most used neighborhood park in Edison. (Heavily trafficked Roosevelt Park, in north Edison, is a county park.)

Rivkin said the park was "very heavily used" each Saturday, and his nine grandchildren, who would be visiting for Sukkot, were looking forward to playing there.

"At this time of year at Rosh Hashana we pray," he added. "This year our prayers were answered by the township of Edison."