Town plans upgrade for area playground

A small, run-down playground next to the Westview housing project will be getting some attention in coming weeks. The town agreed to work on the playground because no one is sure who owns it, said Public Works Director Harry Henderson

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100527/NEWS02/5270379                    Town plans upgrade for area playground Town plans upgrade for area playground  •  Rutland Herald  •  By Susan Smallheer STAFF WRITER - Published: May 27, 2010  •  SPRINGFIELD — A small, run-down playground next to the Westview housing project will be getting some attention in coming weeks.  •  The town agreed to work on the playground because no one is sure who owns it, said Public Works Director Harry Henderson. "It's in the middle of the circle and the question is, 'Who owns the land?'" he said.  •  Henderson said Wednesday the playground sits on land surrounded by the affordable housing project and there is some question about whether the land was deeded to the town during the last round of renovations to the housing project.  •  Westview is managed by Springfield Housing Authority, but owned by a Maine firm, Springfield Housing LLC., according to Springfield Town Manager Robert Forguites.  •  Henderson said he was working on a materials list needed to bring the playground into shape; he said the owner of Westview had pledged to help pay for materials.  •  
The town is contributing the manpower to fix broken or splintered boards in the playground. Six benches that surround the playground will have all their boards replaced, Henderson said.  •  Henderson said the town has already spread a new layer of woodchips on the surface, with help from students at Riverside Middle School as part of their community service day.  •  "Boards are cracked and broken on the gym set," Henderson said. He said there were 50 to 60 apartments in the area, with most of the residents having children.  •  "It's not going to be a brand new playground, but it will be nicer," Henderson said.  •  He said he expected it would only take a day or two of work by the highway crew to fix the problems, and he said he was hoping Springfield Parks and Recreation Department would stain the new wood.  •