Flint Park Playground Group Unveils Final Recommendations: What Do You Think?

by Judy Silberstein

Take the Playground Survey

(November 5, 2003) A few yards from the Little League and soccer fields sits the Flint Park playground, the subject of intense scrutiny for the past 18 months by the Flint Park Playground Group. The collection of residents representing private interests (such as the Flint Park Conservancy) and public entities (such as the Village Recreation and Parks and Trees Committees) have settled on recommendations for replacing the playground’s 15-year old equipment. Co-chairs Brigid Brennan and former Village Trustee Chris Verni entertained the Board on Monday, November 4 with a Power Point presentation outlining specific recommendations for upgrading the play structures and creating two separate but neighboring areas for pre-schoolers and older children.

The group outlined an ambitious design - for the equipment and for the implementation. They hope to raise funds and get the playground operating by the end of spring, 2004. They've placed presentation boards at Village Hall and at the Larchmont Library for public review and are hoping to hear what people think. Now it's up to the Board and the community to provide guidance on next steps.

The plans feature a ship-shaped play structure for toddlers, surrounded by a resilient rubber surfacing for added safety and accessibility. Little ones could crawl, scramble or slide up, under, down and through the ship in full-view of caregivers, who could also keep an eye on the toddler seesaw and swings. Meanwhile, the big kids could be climbing, sliding and hanging from their own near-by structure or sharing the Biggo Double Swing or Boldr Climbing Wall.

The group settled on designs from the firm of Henderson Recreation Equipment and worked with Brett Haddaway who's consulted on numerous Village playgrounds, including the Chatsworth School renovation completed just last week.

In putting together the plan, the group was aiming for aesthetics (to blend in with the natural surroundings), practicalities (like safety), and excitement. They were also aiming to keep within a budget of $150,000, reached after consultation with numerous equipment providers and by researching parks in nearby communities where costs for similar improvements have ranged as high as $500,000.

Coming up with the $150,000 will require an additional dose of creativity and effort from the Playground Group. Larchmont Ironman athlete John Steigerwald has jump-started the effort by volunteering to hand over all funds raised through his participation in the Florida Ironman event of this weekend. (See: The Ironman Supports Flint Park Playground: Invites Community to Help Too)

Mayor Ken Bialo congratulated the group on its presentation and thanked Steigerwald for his support, but also expressed concern that the playground project not get ahead of the Board’s process for funding the expansion at the back of the park.

“It won’t do well to have a competition between the Village and a small group of people who are doing something on behalf of the Village,” he commented. “To the extent that the Board approves of this project, you will fall under the Board’s umbrella,” he said.

Later comments from Board members reflected similar concerns.

Trustee Marlene Kolbert said, “We’re extremely grateful to all the people who participated to bring us to this point. This has to be looked at very carefully so it’s quite clear what the chain of command and coordination will be.” Trustee Mike Wiener was particularly interested in how much participation was expected from the Village Yard. “They’ve put together a very complete proposal, and I want to give it some study,” he said.

“I’m concerned about the price tag,” said Trustee Liz Feld. “Not because I think it’s too expensive, but because of all the other work we want to do in Flint Park. We need to put our heads together on this.”

The Board was also interested in hearing from the rest of Larchmont. “The playground people have put in a tremendous amount of time and have a detailed set of plans for public review. Now, I’m looking forward to hearing from the public,” said Anne McAndrews.

“Of course,” replied Verni. He and Brennan agreed with the need for collaboration, and also stressed the need for efficiency and deliberation if they are to reach their goal of having new play equipment in place by late spring of 2004. The Board’s process may take some time, they noted later, but the playgroup fundraising plans can proceed concurrently with the Board’s efforts and with the final decision-making on details of the playground design. “There is vast consensus – from a large group of residents - that the play equipment needs replacement,” said Verni. “We’re committed to seeing this through.”

At this stage, the general public is being asked to weigh in. What do people think of the overall design and its various aspects? Ultimately, it’s up to the Board to approve the plans and the financing, but the Board and the Playground Group are looking for feedback to guide their decision.

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