The town has had a survey done of the area at Waveny Park where a new playground is planned, officials said last week.
The playground area would be just north of the all-abilities fitness area at Waveny, pictured here on Oct. 14, 2021. Credit: Michael Dinan
The survey allows the committee that’s steering the playground project to “truly have a design instead of this concept ‘put it over there’ type thing, to really figure out what fits in the area,” according to Parks & Recreation Director John Howe.
“We’re working through designs and budget issues and that type of stuff,” Howe told members of the Parks & Recreation Commission at their regular meeting, held Jan. 10 at Lapham Community Center.
One contender for the type of playground to be installed at Waveny.
The comments came in response to a request for an update from Commissioner Hank Green.
The town’s plan to create a children’s playground in Waveny was first publicly floated in early-2021. Currently, there’s a 60-by-60-foot all-abilities fitness station/athletic area located on a grassy, tree-shaded island across the parking lot for the Orchard Field.
Kids often try to play on the exercise equipment, though it’s not designed for them, officials have said, so the playground is designed, in part, to serve the younger siblings of those playing sports on the nearby fields during games. The 12 pieces of equipment there also are outdated and breaking down, according to Ryan Restivo, assistant parks superintendent in the Department of Public Works.
Another contender for the type of playground to be installed at Waveny.
Restivo has been participating in Committee meetings and is expected to provide a “nice update” to Parks & Rec next month, Howe said.
In September, Restivo said the Committee could have the playground in place by this spring. The Committee is working within an approved budget of $455,000 while seeking to fundraise $50,000 for the project, he has said.
Another contender for the type of playground to be installed at Waveny.
Restivo has presented various options for the playground equipment and design, and has said the town would install new curbing and additional fencing to cordon off the new play area. It will be laid out on a rubber “Poured-In-Place” surface similar to the popular playground at Mead Park (Committee members include Monica Capela, who co-founded the successful Friends of Mead Park Playground with Allyson Mahoney).