Renovations on the Jake Gammino Pony Field on Anderson Street have commenced.

Phillipsburg Housing Authority Executive Director Thomas McGuire confirmed construction started on Oct. 21 to upgrade the paved cap near the Pony Field playground into an outdoor basketball court. It’s the final playground renovation the authority has scheduled to perform this year.

A Phillipsburg-based company is acting as contractor for the project, which will cost roughly $89,000 to complete.

The Pony Field playground set will not be changed, although parts were replaced to bring the playground up to warranty earlier this year, McGuire said.

The housing authority completed renovations on two other playgrounds and a basketball court this year. Construction finished Oct. 18 on a playground at Elm and Roseberry streets and a second playground at Elm and Green streets. And a basketball court behind Elm Street also received some work, McGuire said.

“We’re trying to give the children in the housing authority some additional place to play whether it’s basketball or a playground,” he said. Next year, the authority will look at developing some organized recreational programs and collaborating with the Firth Youth Center again, he said.

“The best part is that” the housing authority has agreed to reimburse families for the cost of the $15 membership fee to participate in programs at the Firth Youth Center, said Youth Center Executive Director Kelly Post-Sheedy.

The Firth Youth Center is roughly half-a-mile away from the closest housing authority unit and just a block away from Phillipsburg Elementary School and Walters Park. The youth center produces programming, such as its Prevention Plus Wellness curriculum, for families and children at the housing authority’s Envision Center at 535 Fisher Ave. The youth center hosted its Playground Program at Pony Field in the summer.

“The partnership brings more awareness to everything that we do and the enrichment opportunities we have to offer,” Post-Sheedy said.