For students at St. Gregory the Great School, Hamilton Square, along with their teachers, parents, fellow parishioners and even their pastor, Father Ian Trammell, Sept. 9 was a day for them to go outside to pray, play and celebrate their long-awaited and much-anticipated “bigger and better” playground.

All eyes were looking on as Father Trammell blessed and dedicated the Joseph T. Higham Parish & Community Playground, which was newly built after a fire had destroyed the former playground last Sept. 2. The cause of the fire, which is still under investigation, is suspected to be arson.

Describing the playground as “state-of-the-art,” Father Trammell said it is named in honor of the late Joseph T. Higham, a former parish trustee who was active in the construction of the new church building, and it is handicapped accessible.

The ground surface is made of recycled rubber that provides shock absorbency during play which helps to “reduce maintenance costs and is better for the environment” and as for the equipment, the playground has the works – sliding boards, zip slides and wave climbers.

Along with thanking the folks from the parish and school community at St. Gregory the Great, Father Trammell extended his appreciation for the presence of a distinguished list of invited guests – state and local civic officials, people from the neighborhood and the wider Hamilton and Robbinsville community, the local fire company and business and healthcare leaders, “especially with whom we share alliances in the community, particularly Roma Bank and Saul Funeral Home.”

What was especially heartening about the day, said Father Trammell, was being “surrounded by the smiling faces of the students of our parish school.”

“Once again, St. Gregory’s shows itself to be a shining light of faith with arms outstretched to the community,” he said.