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By the People . . . For the People Serving Wallingford & Meriden Connecticut. www.peoplespressnews.com Wallingford Flower & Gift Shoppe
190 Center Street. 203.265.1514 July 2008 • Volume 8, Issue 104
A New Play in Meriden
The new Hubbard Park Playground "Adventure Hollow" has a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, July 2nd at 5:30. The Hubbard Park Playground Committee and Noah's Ark of Hope, Inc. invites all to attend. It's been a long road to get to this point and it's important to share the story and how folks can accomplish much even as they are faced with many challenges.
Four Years Ago One Meriden mom, Dawn Reynolds, thought, "What would it take to get a new playground for Hubbard Park?" As she began to explore that option four years ago, she never imagined there would be so much involved in getting something that seemed so obvious and elementary underway. And, so, four years later, after hundreds upon hundreds of hours of footwork, planning, politics and an unforeseen tragedy, the simple observation of Nierenburg-Reynolds is now a playground that belongs to everyone in Meriden. She started calling the Meriden Park and Recreation Department head who did not return any of her calls but finally found an ally in Christian Bourdon who is the Recreation Program Supervisor for the City of Meriden. In response to an email from Mayor Mark Benigni, Mr. Bourdon said, "Mr. Mayor, The department is in agreement with Mrs. Nierenburg-Reynolds. The current playscape site is not safe, very inac-
cessible, and unsuitable for the type of playground that Hubbard Park deserves. A new location must be found that will eliminate these concerns. The suggestion of a citizens' committee is a valid one. Parents, especially those that frequent Hubbard Park, would be able to offer input on the location, type of playground, and assist with any fundraising. This playground should be the best & biggest one in Meriden. Should you choose to commission such a committee, I would be glad to serve on it as the City's liaison. Thanks. Chris Bourdon." Shortly thereafter, the mayor formed the Hubbard Park Playground Committee. The two-person committee consisting of Dawn A. Reynolds and Chris Bourdon, who had volunteered himself to serve as the city liaison, grew to include Maryann Santos, Amy Filippides, Steven Iovanna and later Joan Goodman. There were also many who joined and provided vital information to the final report of the committee requested by the City Council and prepared in July of 2005. (See final report in a following page.) Then the real work began. The Committee first had to research, research and research. Every aspect of the playground was considered from site location, components, safety, environmental impact and so much more. The committee has gone around to different playgrounds Continued on Page 3