Update on Wayland's Hannah Williams Park and Playground

Work continues on rebuilding and reimagining Wayland’s Hannah Williams Park and Playground, a project that has been underway since early 2011.

Department of Public Works Director Don Ouellette began talking with residents and relevant town boards in February. Then, at the April Town Meeting, residents approved $120,000 to be spent on the park’s renovations. In addition to that money, the Friends of Hannah Williams has collected about $14,000 toward the renovations and additional funds of $4,000-$5,000 have been donated.

Ouellette said the contract for installing the fence was awarded to Steelco fence in early October. The plan is to install wrought-iron fencing along the Main Street side of the park and to replace the sides and back fencing with new chain link.

Before the new playground equipment, which was ordered in August, can be installed, E.F. Wood must complete site grading. The company has agreed to donate the work required to install a leaching catch basin and grade the site. Ouellette said he expected that work to be completed very soon.

New England Specs Inc., has received the contract for equipment installation. Ouellette said he expects that installation to begin in early November.

In addition to the parts of the project awarded to external firms, Ouellette said there are elements to be completed by Wayland’s own DPW.  

“We will start this work this year (weather permitting),” Ouellette wrote in an email to Patch recently. “This work involves installing curbing around the play area, filling the play area with fiber mulch, installing a water spigot to the rear of the site, plantings, several walkway[s] and finishing the parking lot.” 

The playground will open once the fiber mulch is put down, Ouellette said.