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Selectmen Endorse Community Preservation Applicaton For Boundless Playground
Tuesday,
February 2, 2010
Drew Gatesman’s and Michael Seward’s proposal to fundraise and build a Boundless Playground at Chestnut Hill Community School was supported by selectmen at their meeting on January 25. Because the property where the playground will be located is on town land, approval of the project falls under the purview of the Board of Selectmen. The proposal includes a major fundraising drive involving a world-record-breaking game of Twister, assuming permission for the use of the game by Hasbro is granted.
When the project was initially presented to the Superintendent of Schools, Gatesman and Seward suggested that the proposed playground be dedicated to Jessica Martins. Martins was a 2009 graduate of Belchertown High School who passed away in October after succumbing to H1N1. She was 19 years old. Because she suffered from Rett Syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder, she was more vulnerable to the H1N1 than most. According to Jessica’s mom, Victoria Auffrey, 1 in 15,000 girls are diagnosed with Rett Sydrome.
Although she was confined to a wheelchair, Jessica Martins was not “bound” by it. Jessica Martins certainly was the embodiment of what Boundless Playgrounds are about and it is the intention of Gatesman and Seward for “Jessica’s Boundless Playground” to become a reality.
“She loved to swing, she loved to go for walks, she loved to ride horses…she loved to swim. She absolutely loved the water,” said Auffrey. Jessica also loved amusement parks. Auffrey is proud of the fact that her daughter participated in all the class trips. “Wherever the other kids went, we went with her…the kids were wonderful with her,” she said adding that she attended all the class dances.
Before their meeting with Auffrey, the idea for the playground itself was presented to the Board of Selectmen. Accompanied by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Judith Houle and School Committee Chairman Eric Weiss, Gatesman presented the Boundless Playground project while Seward filmed. He explained to the board that a Boundless Playground is designed for children for all abilities including those that require the assistance of a wheelchair. “It’s cutting edge, it makes a huge statement for Belchertown…There’s very few of them in Massachusetts,” said Gatesman. According to a list of Boundless Playground locations, there are 10 such playgrounds in the Commonwealth.
Weiss advised selectmen that the School Committee is in support of the project. “There’s unanimous support on behalf of the School Committee,” said Weiss. As previously reported on Belchertown-News.com, Gatesman and Seward initially proposed the project to Dr. Houle, the Director of Buildings and Grounds Robert Lachance, Special Education Director Patricia Susen, School Business Manager Michael Krzystofik, and Chestnut Hill Community Principal Brian Cameron. A second meeting was held with a representative of Boundless Playground. This was followed by a meeting with the Chestnut Hill School Council and two meetings with the School Committee.
Dr. Houle explained to the board that a Boundless Playground allows children of different abilities to play side-by-side. “It’s a win-win for every kid because it’s an all inclusive playground,” she said.
Selectman expressed their support for the project. School Department liaison to the Board of Selectmen Ken Elstein said that there is a need for this type of playground. “It’s something we should certainly take advantage of,” said Elstein. Selectman Michael Reardon suggested applying for additional grants. Although Gatesman and Seward already have filed a Community Preservation application for $40,000, Reardon suggested contacting the Department of Parks and Recreation for other funding opportunities.
The Board of Selectmen expressed their support for the project by voting unanimously to endorse the CPA application and by advertising for a new Playground Committee. It was decided by the board that the formation of an official town committee effort surrounding the playground would be insured and legal. The committee would be made up of three citizens, a selectman, and a member of the School Committee. Dr. Houle will be an ex-officio member.
After receiving their support from the Board of Selectmen, Gatesman and Seward met with the Hasbro Vice President of Global Integration George Burtch and Director of Human Resources Andrea Patterson-Girard at their East Longmeadow offices to discuss the use of their Twister game for the major fundraiser. Although no commitments were made by the Hasbro representatives at this meeting, Burtch said that he would forward their request to the marketing people at Hasbro himself.
Stay tuned to Belchertown-News.com for a webpage where you can sign up for the event once Hasbro notifies us.
Editor's Note: Michael Seward is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Belchertown-news.com
©2008-2010 Belchertown-News.com
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