nothin New Haven Independent | New Playscape At Hammer Field Sings & Swings

New Playscape At Hammer Field Sings & Swings

Marcia Chambers Photos

A buoyant new playscape quickly captured the fancy of kids at the John B. Sliney, Jr. Elementary School yesterday as it made its debut at the Hammer Field Basketball Court. 

Alex Palluzzi, Jr., the town’s director of parks and recreation, gathered the town’s top town and education officials to Hammer Field, which is across the street from the John B. Sliney, Jr., Elementary School, a school long in need of a new play facility. This one came into being through the efforts of parents, business leaders and town officials. Parents mounted a campaign before the Board of Finance and the Representative Town Meeting (RTM) to renovate two dilapidated playgrounds at Hammer Field. The RTM approved $73,000 toward the project. School officials provided guidance but no funding because the new playscape is not on school grounds.

Palluzzi told the audience that this was a Kompan Playscape and that it is state-of-the-art, innovative and creative and the first ever handicap accessible play space in Branford.” It is designed to serve kids ages 5 to 12.

First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove played a large role in helping the project get off the ground and yesterday he and Palluzzi and a group of kids officially cut the ribbon. He told the assembled group that Branford’s commitment to athletics, to sports, to recreation for kids transcends administrations and makes it a special town along the shoreline. He said in just five months, through combined efforts of multiple organizations and businesses and the town, the project came into being. This includes $200 from the brother & sister team of Mira & Titus Rodriguez who raised the funds over the summer at their Dad’s ice cream truck, the audience learned.
 
Allison Nerone of Church Street hosted an auction through her Facebook page, Boots and Bananas for funds she plans to give for the next playscape, one designed for pre‑K kids. It will be erected nearby. While the total is not final, she expects to donate around $250 through the sale of donated handmade boutique children’s clothing from designers all over the country.

About $40,000 to $50,000 is needed for the next project, a Pre‑K playscape. 

State Rep. Lonnie Reed (D‑Branford) attended the ribbon-cutting. She said she will be seeking a state grant for the pre‑k project, one also designed to accommodate children with disabilities.

Our public and private contributions have been generous and I am confident that we can make something happen. We now, as you know, have a new office of Early Childhood and are doing much more to fully include children with challenges. Also, there is the No Child Left Inside’ initiative that we have been pursuing with DEEP. The idea here is to attract children away from video games and other static TV attractions with a colorful, multi-faceted playscape that seems to beckon, Come play with me!’” she said in an interview.

Reed is seeking her fourth term in office this November. Her Republican opponent, Paul Cianci was also on hand. 

Ted Kennedy Jr., whose career as an attorney has centered on disabilities and the law, told the Eagle he was impressed with the playscape structure, especially the ramp. The ramp allows disabled children to find their way into the playscape. It’s well done,” Kennedy said, discussing the architectural nuances of the ramp. Kennedy is seeking to become the 12th District’s state senator in the November election. He is running against Republican Bruce K. Wilson, Jr. 
 

Cristy Cantu (pictured left with Reed and Palluzzi), the chair of the playground committee and a PTA representative, worked with SuperMoms,” as Palluzzi called them, Kate Blanchette, Stephanie Carvin and Robin Comey, all of whom led the charge for a new playscape. Cantu thanked Cosgrove for the time and effort he put into the project. She said this playscape was truly inclusive.” The kids, and she named several, were our consultants.” They were the ones, she told the audience, to figure out how they wanted to play. 

The project came in a full month ahead of schedule and will serve the kids in the neighborhood as well as the Sliney students, who leaped into the Kompan Playscape the minute they got the signal to run. Sliney Principal Dr. Susan C. Iwanicki, who attended the event, smiled happily. 

Sally E. Bahner contributed reporting for this story.

###

Sign up for our morning newsletter

Don't want to miss a single Independent article? Sign up for our daily email newsletter! Click here for more info.


Post a Comment

Commenting has closed for this entry

Comments

There were no comments