Kids & Family

Wayland Park Reopens to Applause, Praise

A rainy Saturday didn't stop residents from coming to the grand reopening of Wayland's Hannah Williams Playground.

Under normal circumstances, cold drizzle on a cloudy day makes the average playground a lonely place.

But Saturday wasn’t normal and the new Hannah Williams Playground isn’t average.

On Saturday morning, under gray, wet skies, Wayland’s Department of Public Works Director Don Ouellette reopened Hannah Williams Playground after closing it in May 2011 for safety concerns and in anticipation of a redesign.

“This has been a long time coming,” Ouellette told the crowd of wellies-wearing adults and children standing in the chilly morning mist. “This was my most challenging job that I had last year.”

The new playground features the swing set from the old playground as well as new monkey bars, tunnels, a merry-go-round, several slides and a couple of climbing structures all colored gray, brown and green so that the structures blend into the natural landscape.

In addition, a new brick walkway leading from the parking lot to the playground includes the bricks purchased years ago during a previous fundraising effort for the park.

Hannah Williams Playground previously featured a sprawling wooden play structure built well before concerns surfaced about treated lumber in playground equipment. In addition to the chemicals, the old play structure had aged to become “a giant splinter,” according to one parent at the grand reopening.
 
Plans to revitalize the playground began in early 2011 when residents began meeting to brainstorm ideas and talk through budget needs. Voters then approved $120,000 in the town’s Fiscal 2012 capital budget for Hannah Williams renovations and donations to the Friends of Hannah Williams organization as well as other fundraising efforts brought the budget to $140,000.

Ouellette said that site excavation, much of which was donated by Wayland company E.W. Wood Excavation and Site Development, uncovered feet of clay that drove up costs and meant that money budgeted for an additional piece of play equipment had to go toward compensating for the clay.

Still, the kids who turned out for the ribbon-cutting Saturday didn’t seem to notice a missing piece of equipment and instead enjoyed the pieces that are up and open for play. A sandbox and one piece of equipment on the site still need to be completed, but will be open soon.

Michael Nugent brought his daughter Addison Nugent to the grand opening and even watched her help cut the ribbon.

“Addison went into hysterics when the old structure came down,” Nugent said, adding that they drove past the park every day and watched the renovations take place.
He said his daughter was thrilled to be asked to help cut the ribbon and reopen the park.

Wayland resident Jeanne Brown brought her children to the reopening and said she appreciated the open concept of the new layout.

“The open space allows them to run more,” said Brown, a personal trainer who said she appreciates the opportunity from the kids to move more between pieces of equipment. In addition, Brown said the old equipment made it difficult for parents to keep an eye on their kids.

The grassy side of the park, around the gazebo, remains closed to allow grass and loam to rest. Ouellette said he has requested additional funds in the capital plan for two years out that could go toward constructing a band stand of sorts, additional equipment, an edible park or walking path.


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