Hannah Williams
Playground Is Open -- Enjoy!
NEWS -- March, 2001
(all items in reverse chronological order)
WAYLAND,
MA, Sunday night, March 25, 2001
– DONE! We completed ALL the safety repairs and equipment installation
today. The playground is fully operational.... every piece of equipment
was thoroughly tested by official youngsters today.... it's great!
We have so many people to thank... our food donors (who kept the engine running) Main Street Coffee, Einstein's Bagels and others. Thanks to all the volunteers who brought muffins, coffee, hot chocolate, brownies, cookies, donuts, and more...
Thank
you Glenn for a huge, long day.... and thank you Andrey, our favorite
Russian... and thank you Alex, and thank you Tom, and Gerry, and Robert
and so many others who worked so hard....
Thank you Ted.... without you.... we'd still be on the drawing board (or more likely the park would be in a heap at the dump). Bless you. (Now let's get your basement cleaned and organized....).
I (your editor Cliff) am just so pleased and happy to see the kids out there enjoying. That warms me up so much (and today we needed warming).
Thank you everyone in town who pulled and pushed for this playground to again come to life. It's alive and well. Bless the children....
Enjoy.
WAYLAND, MA, March 24, 2001 – GREAT PROGRESS! We were blessed with a warm morning to get us going.... and a great turn out... old friends and new. Thanks to all those who gave their time so generously today and got most of the work done.... kids moving wood chips, skilled carpentry people doing the handrail extensions.... the bakers of cookies and muffins and so much more....
What a huge accomplishment!
Let's finish up tomorrow.... it'll be a bit cool, so bundle up.... and let's get it done. We can finish spreading the wood fiber chips, hang the swings, hang the tire swing, etc. We're so close!
(we're all tired, but let me carry on...)
... Ted... you stayed up all night to prep the materials, load the trailer... you've done so much... we can't thank you enough (and Alexandra and Sherri... you are soooo patient).
Thanks to Tom Klein and Jim Boggs who have been steadfast leaders.... we're glad we didn't have Jim crushed today under a 600-pound beam....
And thanks to all those who came out (some at 8 am) and worked a long day. We appreciate everyone's help. (You can tell I'm tired..... is everything spelled ok..?).
Thank you madam commissioner for the cookies and the well wishes...
Thank you Jim, Andre, Alec, Jerry, Gerry, Pat, Phil, Bill, Steve, Glenn, Luke, and the many others who put in a long day today... (see you tomorrow??) ... starting at 9!
-- your editor, cliff
WAYLAND, MA, March 23, 2001 – WORK IS ON for tomorrow and Sunday at the playground -- and we really need lots of hands.... and we need your tools.
- Bring rakes and wheelbarrows for spreading wood chips.
- Bring ladders...
- Bring power drills and screw guns (charge up those batteries).
- Bring wrenches and vice grips and other tools.
All will be appreciated.
We'll be starting about 8:30 .... anyone who can help transport items to the playground should call Ted Friday night or after 7:30 Saturday on his cell phone 508-380-7286. Unlike last fall, we don't have a storage trailer on site and tools, etc. won't be there ahead of time. So truck/van/wagon drivers ... help us out!
Any other questions... call Cliff at 508-655-2957.
WAYLAND, MA, March 19, 2001 – Are you ready to work and finish up the safety improvements at the playground? We need your help to raise handrails 4 inches, to finish spreading wood chips and to hang swings and other things.
This is a photo of our prototype raised handrails -- the Happy Halperts not withstanding -- that we need to raise by about 4 inches on all higher platforms. Saturday was beautiful and dozens of folks were out enjoying the playground. See more photos below.
We need all the help we can get, so we won't be too fussy about when you can come.... but we're planning the days in 3-hour shifts... 9-Noon and 1-4 each day.
URGENT -- we need you to bring tools! We won't have the trailer like last year with a collection of things... this is only a two-day effort and we need:
- rakes, shovels
- wheelbarrows
- ladders (to reach the top of the swings)
- drills/screw guns (battery-operated ones)
- hammers
- safety equipment: goggles, gloves
Watch this page for a more detailed list as we get closer to Saturday, March 24.
We appreciate your help in every way!
Who says you need a playground to have fun... it's just that the snow doesn't stick around very long! Thank you Burke girls!
We hope next Saturday turns our as nice or better than last Saturday when dozens of families were out on the playground! And, we hope the snow is gone, gone, gone also.
Photos by Cliff Kolovson
March 17, 2001
What's Irish and stays out all winter?
Patty O'Furniture
March 1, 2001
The call is out for volunteers to help March 24-25 to finish the bulk of the repairs to the Hannah Williams Playground. At a meeting on February 27th, organizer Cliff Kolovson reported on the additional work planned. “A third load of wood chips will need to be spread,” he said. “That will be the big job!”
“We will need carpenters and assistants to help with the handrail extensions,” he said, explaining that certain rails throughout the structure must be raised four inches from 34 to 38 inches. “And we’ll need others to help hang some pieces we left off last fall such as the dip ladder and the swinging horse.”
The Friends of the Hannah Williams Playground organizers also have ordered steering wheels, swings and a tire swing that all must be installed in various places around the property.
Kolovson also reported that more than 160 engraved bricks were sold for the new walkway that will lead into the playground later in the spring. This is nearly double what was expected. This walkway will be installed at the entrance to the playground (between the fence opening where a gate will hang and the ramp leading to the wood structure). Final confirmation notices all have been returned and the order was submitted. Installation will be in late May or early June.
A key message in Kolovson’s report was that fundraising needs to continue. The community was extremely generous, donating more than $40,000 total. This amount is more than double the $18,000 estimated for the basic repairs. Of course, the initial phase is costing more than originally estimated in part due to extra wood fiber needed for the ground support. The organizers also have opted to make a few improvements such as a self-closing gate for the entry.
Expenses to date have totaled approximately $13,500 for materials (wood, Trex, wood fiber, tools, hardware, etc.) The estimate for materials for this spring’s work is for more than $15,000 (wood sealant, an extra load of wood fiber, a self-closing gate, additional hardware such as swings, and other materials). The group also plans to provide a portable toilet on the site for the season, at a cost of about $1,000.
The balance of funds will be set aside for 5-7 years worth of maintenance. Each year, it’s expected, there will be fresh wood sealant required, hardware repairs, floor board replacements, wood fiber replenishment and other repairs. The organizers figure the cost at $2,000 - 3,500 per year. So, at a minimum, the group needs $10,000 to $15,000 in the bank. This estimate does NOT include any provision for improvements such as fencing, landscaping, or portable toilet.
Fundraisers under consideration are a Beer Dinner, a BBQ, additional T-shirt sales, a and a month-long raffle. Local businesses and associations are being called for contributions and/or donations of supplies, food, plantings and more to further enhance the property.
During the work weekend (March 24-25; rain date of March 31/April 1), one more load of wood chips is being ordered and will need to be spread. There also are a couple carpentry items to finish, including hanging the tire horse and the swings!
The wood sealing and brick laying for the walkway will be done by professionals. Sealing will be done as soon as the weather allows (during the week to minimize down time). The brick walk will be done in late May or early June, depending on production and weather.
A rededication ceremony is being considered before school ends in June. Other projects are fencing and landscaping.
All contributions are tax deductible. Donations should be made to the Friends of the Hannah Williams Playground. There are a handful of long-sleeve t-shirts still available.
For more information, call organizer Cliff Kolovson at 508-655-2957.
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- We continue to accept donations for the long-term maintenance of the play structure -- make checks payable to Friends of the Hannah Williams Playground; mail to 26 Garden Path, Wayland, MA 01778.
- Buy a T-shirt -- both long-sleeve and short-sleeve now available