STW Playground Sneak Peak
Construction for the new playground at Stanley T. Williams (STW) Community Center will begin this summer, with most of the first phase likely completed by August. The first phase of the project will include the installation of a net-climber playscape for ages 5 to 12.
"We're incorporating a net-climber and they moved to that because there's more play involved with that, rather than having a piece of plastic that makes walls. Its nets and climbing," said Pamela Gery, who helped to shepherded in the project during her 15-year tenure as Parks & Recreation Director, which concluded last week in order to begin her new role with the Town of Darien. (Gery was featured as The Sound's Person of the Week in the issue of June 4.)
Phase I will also include the construction of a shade pavilion with an access path leading from STW, which is a combined Senior Center and Recreation Center. The pavilion is expected to be completed by September. This summer's construction could also include some or all aspects of Phase II of the project, which will bring in a smaller playscape for those aged two to five.
The town provided $25,000 in the 2015-'16 budget to help underwrite the $98,000 STW playground project's installation. Additional funds for the project are being channeled from Parks and Recreation's self-funded account.
Gery said her vision for a splash pad as another type of playground component at the site has been incorporated into a potential Phase III section, which would need to be constructed at a future date to be determined, should financing become available.
"My plan was for a splash pad, too, and it's still in the plan, so it's going to be a Phase Three if it does happen," said Gery,
This summer's Phase I construction of the new playscape will not detract from outdoor play space available to summer campers at STW.