Mansfield Playground Closed For Summer Renovations

MANSFIELD, CT — Town of Mansfield Facilities Director Michael Posocco has announced that the playground at Mansfield Elementary School is now closed to the public with the end of the school year.

Upgrades are being fashioned that include new equipment and the installation of rubberized surfacing.

The projects may take most of the summer to complete, and the gates to the playground will be
"secured to prohibit pedestrian access," Posocco said.

The first improvement is the addition of a We-Go-Round, a fun and inclusive spinner built with
American Disabilities Act sensibility in mind. Children can walk or roll into the ground-level
merry-go- round-type apparatus for a fun spinning experience. It will be installed at the main
elementary playground.

While students are not in school, crews will also apply rubber surfacing on sections of the elementary playground, as well as the Pre-K play areas, replacing wood chips in certain sections.

The surface makes the ground safer and optimizes accessibility for users, Posocco said. A shade structure will also be installed in the main playground.

Many deteriorating trees were removed this spring adjacent to the playground, and formerly shaded spots are now more exposed to the sun.

"Our playground is a special place for our students, and we know they'll miss it while it's under
construction," Principal Kate McCoy said. "Summer gives us the best opportunity to make these
important updates. We're excited for students to enjoy the new We-Go-Round when they return in
August, and we’re grateful to our families for their patience while the work is completed safely and
correctly."

In an announcement sent home to families, McCoy included a link to help families find Mansfield’s public playgrounds located across Mansfield, including at the Mansfield Public Library nearby, the enhanced Bicentennial Pond Recreational Area, at Sunny Acres Park, and the Mansfield Community Playground to the rear of the Mansfield Community Center. Mansfield also offers more than 120 miles of trails and pathways, and a BMX/Skate Park facility at the community center.

Students attending summer school at Mansfield Elementary School in July will be engaging in activities outdoors including the learning gardens, on nearby hiking trails, and other outdoor learning spaces around the elementary school.

While the playground is secured, the town’s facilities staff will also oversee installation of fencing
between the school grounds and neighbors’ properties.

Any updates to the schedule will be posted to the district’s website.