Playground Plan | Areas of Interest | Planning the Playground | Pictures

Paul Bosch and Art Mittelstaedt Jr. (Planning Associates Inc.) have donated there services to render the plans of the playground committee and to advise the Trust in reference to safety and design considerations.

Playground

The playground will be enjoyable and challenging to body and mind. It will be safe and accessible. Adults will have places to enjoy each others company and monitor their children’s play. A Playground Committee of the Trust has developed this plan. The committee observed uses of the flat open areas in the park which have changed the location and shape of the footprint of the playground. As you can see from the above plan a central sitting area (2) will be surrounded by play areas (3,4,5,6).

Volunteers have planned the playground and Planning Associates have put these plans on paper. At this time the actual building of the playground will be made possible by combining donations of money, of services and materials by citizens and businesses and funds from a matching grant from the County to the Trust. If all goes well, the construction will begin in the spring of 2006.

Walk ways will connect various parts of the playground and will use a handsome make of paver bricks. See “Donate” page for information about BRICK DONATIONS

Location

The playground will be located between the parking lot and the soccer field.

Areas of Interest 

1. The entry will be at the north end of the parking lot. An arbor will frame the entry and provide a place for information boards about the donors, committee members, rules of play and precautions.
2. Benches and tables will be under a hexagonal pavilion.
3. Play system for 2-5 year olds. (See pictures)
4. There will be swing sets for younger and older children. In addition there will be two handicap accessible swings near the 2-5 year old play systems. (See pictures)
5. Play system for 5-7 years (See pictures)
6. Play system for 7-12 year olds. (See pictures)
7. Entry/exit at the central path at the edge of the baseball field.
8. For the future: A “water spray and play area” is on a ‘wish list’. Aside from money for installation this area would require potable water. This is not available at this time.
9. Fencing and landscaping will surround the perimeter of the playground. As time goes on we hope to develop a children’s walk through a “secret garden” type of environment around parts of the perimeter. (See pictures.)

Planning the Playground

The Heritage Trust formed a playground planning committee after the community children met to design the playground of their dreams. The following people have served on the committee: Chairperson, Maureen Bond; Co-chairperson, Janet Kaspar; Fred Drewes; Laura Jeanne Gargan; Nancy Graffeo; Tricia Kaplan; Patty Kennedy; Becky Kopienski and Amy Satchell.

The committee members have visited several playgrounds on Long Island, they have researched options for playground equipment (play systems) that are safe, fun, challenging and accessible. They have interviewed and reviewed presentations by different play system suppliers. They have done over a year of research to determine what their recommendations would be. Research has been done on the playground environment, which is the areas immediately surrounding the playground, a possible water play area, surfacing options, budget proposals, safety requirements, maintenance, insurance, etc.

The shape of the playground and its environment has progressed from one plan to another. The final plan is pictured above.

The Heritage Trust and its Playground Planning Committee have accomplished a lot so far, but of course any helping hand is welcomed. Anyone interested, in any way to help in the future with this and other wonderful projects we have planned please contact us.

Pictures

2 to 5 year old play system

5 to 7 year old play system

 
7 to 12 year old play system

Swing sets

 
Accessible swing set 

A door might be the entry to a children’s secret garden. A path will lead
through plantings and benches geared to children.

 Dwarf and interesting plants will hopefully stimulate a child’s imagination
as they explore the playground’s perimeter landscaping.

 
Possibly sculptured plants will surprise children venturing along the garden path.