New Canaan Eyes State Funds for Mead, Kiwanis Playground Upgrades

 

New Canaan will put in for capital project funds from the state to replace what parks officials call aging playground equipment and Mead and Kiwanis Parks. With funds that come through the State Bond Commission, the Small Town Economic Assistance Program (or “STEAP”) serves Connecticut towns ineligible for Urban Action bonds, for purposes that include “quality of life projects,” the state website says. The Board of Selectmen at its regular meeting Tuesday voted unanimously to support an application on behalf of the Recreation Department for $103,750 to replace the playground equipment. “We need to replace equipment at Kiwanis and … at Mead we have a see-saw and spring animals [that are aging],” Recreation Director Steve Benko said during the meeting, held at the New Canaan Police Department. The equipment is inspected every year—some of its dates to 1987, Benko said—and it’s reaching the end of its usable life.