Palisades celebrates new playground as a community accomplishment

Danny O’Donnell gave 25 years of his life to helping and teaching young students at Durham-Nockamixon Elementary School before his untimely death in 2019 at age 47.

So it’s fitting the Palisades community in Kintnersville could celebrate the building of a new playground—a project five years in the making—through the cooperative efforts of several local businesses and people.

In a welcome to the dedication ceremony at the playground, Amy Stump, a former president of the Durham-Nockamixon Parent-Teacher Association, noted that the installation was the result of that lengthy effort. She noted the support from the school district, the school community, local business and the PTA.

In particular, she thanked the Palisades School District, including its board of directors, Superintendent Bridget O’Connell, Community Relations Director Donna Holmes, Business Manager Drew Bishop, and Facilities Director Al Crouthamel; and Durham-Nockamixon “Principal Mrs. Collie, our amazing teachers, staff, students and their families – who raised over $22,000 through acts of kindness – while the district contributed $6,500, local business donated $29,000, and the rest was raised through PTA fundraisers.” The total raised was $59,000.

Business sponsors listed included DiPalantino Paving Contractors, Bucks Outfitters, Madeleine Sturm, H&R Block Ottsville, PA & Frenchtown, NJ; Fred Beans Nissan of Flemington, NJ; Pleasant Valley Auto Care, Palisades Youth Soccer Association, Cooper Mechanical, Inc., Penn Community Bank, All Senior Services, Palisades Community Foundation and Springfield Township Lions Club

Stump concluded with a shout-out to “our past and present DN PTA Board of Directors – especially Stacey Finney, Lorrie Campbell and Jill Williams,” and remembered O’Donnell as “an amazing teacher, a dear friend to so many, a mentor, a role model. He was truly part of our community and school. Today we honor his legacy by dedicating this playground in his memory. May his memory always live on in the laughter and play of the Durham-Nockamixon Elementary students.”

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