John Farnen can see light at the end of the long-winding tunnel leading to a new playground and landscaping for Tanner Park in Hatboro.

Farnen, a tireless volunteer with the borough’s Elm Street organization, got the green light from the Hatboro Planning Commission Tuesday night for the Jefferson Avenue and Tanner Road park’s landscaping, pathway and lighting for the memorial walkway. 

“It’s another step forward,” Farnen told Patch after the meeting.

The next and – hopefully final step – in the six-year planning and fundraising initiative, is to get final approval from the Hatboro Borough Council during its Sept. 24 meeting. Provided that that happens, Farnen said he hopes to have construction complete and the playground installed “before winter sets in.”

But, before the eight new playground pieces can be installed, Farnen said approximately six to eight weeks of preparation work needs to be undertaken. Stone needs to be installed for drainage, 12 or 14 inches of ground surface material needs to be added and concrete footings must be put in place, Farnen said.

“We’re getting closer to that,” Farnen said of who would carry out the work. “We haven’t pulled anybody’s name out of a hat yet.”

Aside from the cost of the playground equipment, Farnen estimated that the other expenses would be in the range of $150,000.

“Twelve or 14 nonprofits helped get us where we are,” Farnen said of the ongoing fundraising efforts. The Hatboro Borough Authority last year also committed $60,000 to the project.

As far as taking on other upgrades at borough parks, Farnen said Elm Street volunteers don’t want to get ahead of themselves.

“We would love to, but we want to get past this one first,” he said.