The Parks & Recreation Commission on Wednesday night voted unanimously in favor of the proposed design and layout of a widely anticipated playground at Waveny.
Funded by private donors, the town and a state grant, the Waveny Playground will be set in a rectangle in the same area the new fitness area at the park, across the lot from the soccer fields and Orchard softball field.
Rendering of the Waveny Playground
To be constructed next spring, the new playground will feature a main component that incorporates slides, climbing objects, sensory objects, swings, railings, musical instruments and more, according to Superintendent of Parks Ryan Restivo, who presented to the Commission with members of the Waveny Playground Committee.
“It creates a little bit of everything to be inclusive,” Restivo said at Parks & Rec’s regular meeting, held at Lapham Center and via videoconference.
Waveny Playground Committee members are Monica Capela, Lauren Connolly Nussbaum, Hilary Ormond and Meredith Tobitsch.
Rendering of the Waveny Playground
Commissioners voting in favor of the proposed design were Gene Goodman, Hank Green, George Benington (chair), Susan Lione, Douglas Murphy, Timothy Klimpl, Lindsey Heron, Melany Hearne, David Shea, Brittney Singer and Jeff Platt.
“Very well done,” Shea said. “Excellent presentation.”
Next steps include presenting next week to the Board of Selectmen and Town Council, to secure approval for contracts.
Commissioners asked Restivo and the Committee whether a new double-sided fiberglass donor sign would be framed in blue or beige (beige), whether the musical instruments could be disruptive (no), whether there will be one single entrance/exit (for playground visitors, yes), whether there will be benches nearby for parents to sit and watch their kids at play (yes) and whether the playground will be fenced in (yes, in a post-and-rail with mesh).
The playground is designed with elements to serve kids 5 to 12, and with additional parts that will serve kids 2 to 5, Restivo said. For example, the swings will have a “tot seat” for younger kids, along with three typical “belt seats” and also two “zero-G seats” for those with mobility challenges. Other features include: Skyrun Zip Track, VIstasky Rope Tower, Inclusive Whirl, Kidnetix Twirl, Roxall See-Saw, Sensory Cove Climber and Harmonic Chimes.
The playground also will feature a Playground Communication Board which allows kids with different abilities, such as nonverbal kids, to communicate. Such boards have been installed at all three elementary schools and at Saxe, Restivo said. A QR Code on the board itself will provide a tutorial for those encountering it for the first time. The board itself can be modified to assist visually impaired people, Committee members said.
Bravi!