"Stegasaurus” Playground Rises At Chatsworth

by Joan Simon

Chatsworth parents raise the stegasaurus-shaped climber.

(October 27, 2003) Chatsworth School’s blacktop was a swarm of activity this past Saturday, with more than 40 fathers of Chatsworth students busily constructing a new playground for second and third graders. The newest playground continues a Chatsworth tradition of cooperative efforts between parents, the Mamaroneck School District, the Village of Larchmont, and playground equipment designer Brett Haddaway.

The PTA has pitched in with finances and organization. A $53,000 gift from the PTA to the school district is paying for the playground. The PTA accumulated the total over several years of regular PTA fundraising, noted Philippa Wharton, a Chatsworth parent who organized the effort. “We were pleased that no special fundraising campaign was needed for this project,” she said.

Two weeks ago, Larchmont Village foreman Joe Bedard and a crew from the Department of Public Works arrived with heavy apparatus to remove the old equipment and stayed on to help with the construction. There followed many days of heavy lifting and digging by Mamaroneck School District buildings and grounds workers, under the guidance of George McNally. Preparing more than 70 three-foot deep postholes was really tough, noted Jeff Gibson, who headed up the district crew for seven straight days. “We ran into a lot of rock,” he said. Chatsworth parent Ed Gitlin and carpenters from his company, EMM Design & Construction, added their much-appreciated professional help.

Nine dads collaborated on assembling the “Play Shell Fort,” a puzzling assortment of colorful molded plastic pieces. “I think the kids could do a better job at this than the parents are doing,” joked Paul Sarkozi, father of a Chatsworth second grader, early Saturday morning. “But it’s going to get done.”

The new playground replaces an earlier one built by PTA parents in 1989, and enhanced five years ago, again by parents. “One of the reasons we needed new play equipment,” explained Chatsworth Principal Jane Hand, “is that the school is growing by leaps and bounds. While the old place had enough activities to accommodate our earlier population, we needed play equipment that would give more opportunity for play to more children at one time.” Chatsworth has grown from 575 students to nearly 700 in the eight years Ms. Hand has been principal, despite the sixth grade move to the Hommocks. In addition, noted Philippa Wharton, “The wood was splintering and much of the equipment was too high for today’s safety standards.”

The Stegasaurus playground joins a long tradition of PTA-sponsored play spaces in the school district. The first PTA efforts were the renovations of the Chatsworth first grade playground in 1988, and the upper playground in 1989. “It was great to get people together working on a project,” said Martha Kaufman, who helped organize those efforts. “ It was a real community builder.” Parent groups at Murray and Central School followed suit in the early 90’s with the first of several playground constructions at those schools. The Mamaroneck Avenue School PTA also contributed to their play areas. Before school opened this fall, the Central PTA purchased several new pieces for their older student's playground.

Carmen White, who organized the large group of Chatsworth volunteers this year, was thrilled with the large turnout of parents, especially many of the dads who put in long hours at the construction site. Local restaurants and food vendors supplied abundant quantities of food. “The community really pulled together to make this happen,” she said.

For Chatsworth father Michael Glauber, it was the fourth time he has helped to renovate a playground at the school. He praised Brett Haddaway, who has been providing play equipment to Chatsworth since 1988 and works along side parents during construction. “He’s not willing to let things go,” said Glauber. “If something is a fraction of an inch off, he won’t allow it.”

Reflecting on the change, Chatsworth PTA President Nancy Winkelstein said, “It’s sad to see the old go, but it will be great to see the new one up.” Principal Jane Hand predicted that the new Stegasaurus Playground would become the defining symbol of Chatsworth.

How many kids can ride a stegasaurus? A lot, learns Principal Jane Hand at recess.