A Playground Rises in Westbrook
Soon the happy voices of children will be heard once again at the firehouse playground, now that the town project install a new playscape on the site and add a new play surface is nearly finished. It will mark the end of a long and, at times, convoluted process.
Rich Annino, the town’s Parks & Recreation Department director, said that one section of the old playscape will soon be installed at the Town Beach by the town’s Department of Public Works (DPW). That section, designed for use by children aged 3 to 6, was deemed salvageable. The other section of the older playscape will be discarded.
Annino said that the poor condition of the older playscape was brought to his attention in 2015 by several parents who complained the equipment had sharp edges that were unsafe.
Once Annino realized the equipment was already 20 years old—and it indeed was showing signs of its age—he started investigating replacement options; this was in the late fall of 2015. By January 2016, he was ready to place an order. It turns out that in January, the prior year’s playscape models were on sale for half-price, so Annino placed the order and applied for a grant. To have the supplier hold the prices, he also secured a letter from First Selectman Noel Bishop indicating the town’s intention to move forward with the purchase.
In March 2016, the Westbrook Foundation awarded the town a $43,636 grant to buy a new playscape for the firehouse playground, but the equipment couldn’t be installed before the summer season was underway so town leaders decided to store the equipment temporarily at the town garage on Route 145. This would ensure the playground installation work would not close the playground during the season of its busiest use.
As summer ended and it was time to install the new playscape, town staff began to ask whether the new equipment should be installed where the old one was or if instead it should move to a new site, perhaps across the driveway next to the basketball court. At the same time, several community members came forward to ask whether Fiske Lane tennis courts could become a dog park.
The Board of Selectmen decided to combine these questions into one public meeting held in fall 2016. In this meeting, neighbors to the Fiske Lane courts spoke out in opposition to a dog park at the site. Other neighbors opposed one suggestion that the playground be relocated to the Fiske Lane court site. Others spoke out against putting the new playscape next to the basketball courts.
With little support for change, the Board of Selectmen voted to keep to the original plan: install the new playscape at the firehouse playground but first, have DPW fix the drainage problems that led to playground puddles and ice ponds.
DPW tied the pooling to rainwater that was directed there from the firehouse gutters. To correct the issue, DPW constructed a drywell between the two playscape structures and then re-directed flow from the gutters into it.
DPW also fortunately discovered and corrected an issue with the firehouse septic system at that time. Had the issue with the septic system appeared a month or two later, the newly installed playscape might have had to be removed to remediate the problem.
With site issues addressed, the removal of the 20 year-old playground equipment began. One section was deemed salvageable was set aside to be relocated to the town beach. The other portion was discarded. Next the playground site was graded, the two playscape installation enclosures defined and the equipment installed. Black sheeting to prevent weeds was then laid down, topped by pea stone. Finally, each playscape area was edged with black plastic boards and wood bark mulch loaded within each enclosure.
“We will have age-appropriate playscapes at the playground, one for ages 3 to 6 and another for ages 6 to 10,” said Annino.
The firehouse playground was expected to be open and ready for play by May 1 (after press time). Annino still has other tasks to complete on site, but those will not stop the area from opening. Over the next month, Annino plans to work with DPW to remove the aging gazebo and install a new pavilion in its place. He also has purchased two new picnic tables that will be installed underneath the new pavilion.
“We would prefer to have a pavilion like [the one] at the town beach to provide shade and opportunities for family picnicking,” said Annino
Annino says that DPW hopes to install the salvaged playscape piece for ages 3 to 6 at the town beach this month, too.