A new play area will be underway soon at the Martin Luther King Multi-Purpose Center in Spring Valley.

U.S. Rep. Mondaire Jones visited his hometown on Wednesday to announce that the center is receiving nearly $300,000.

The money will go toward building a play area for the community in the vacant lot across the street from the center.

The vacant lot will be turned into a safe and open green space for people of all ages to enjoy. Residents say there is currently no playground for children to play at.

"They can sit there and have somewhere where they can come and play and talk to each other,” says Natasha Dyer, staff member at the MLK Multi-Purpose.

“I know we're going to use it to its full use," says Calvin Demetrius, of the Spring Valley NAACP.

The center's goal is to have the new area ready for use within a year's time.