Conference moira::parenting_v3

    
     In North Reading Ma there's a new playground located off Rte 62
    near North Reading Lumber. Its Has :
    
       Baby Swings
       Adult Swings
       Sand Box
       Maze for Toddlers
       Two Slildes
       Climbing Areas
       Water Bubblers
       Basketball ( Full Court Adult )
       
       

    
     Wilmington Ma - Located off Rte 129, 1 mile off RTE 38.
    Adjacent to Shawsheen School. It Has :
    
      Mazes ( Lots of them all pressure treated wood )
      Slides
      Swing Rides for 3 to 5 children
      Baby Swings
      Adult Swings
      Parents are to sit in the middle and watch children
      
    
    

    
     Billerica Ma. - Located off Rte 3A behind Purity Supreme.
    
       We haven't been there yet, was just finished before winter 90'
    Maybe someone from Billerica could help out.
    

    
    Reading Ma - Located off Rte 28 near High School.
    
      Also finished before winter of 90'. Maybe someone from Reading area
    can add details.
    

    
    Groton Ma. - Off Rte 119 in the center of town. Haven't been there.
    Again Maybe someone in the Groton area could add details.
    

    
    Billerica Ma - Mcdonalds on Rte 3a has a big McDonald Land. Closer to
    the Burlington Line.
    

    
    Lowell, Ma - Shed Park off RTE 495 to RTE 38 toward Lowell about two
    lights up. Swimming ( Not sure of condition of pool ) Tennis, jogging,
    basketball, baseball, swings. And the largest hills we know of in this
    area for sledding. All size runs for both kids and adults alike.
    

    
    Reading, Ma. - Burger King on Rte 28. Has both an indoor (takes 1/4 of
    the inside of the building) playground, as well as a decent size
    outdoor playground with three different types of slides.
    

    There are a few that I know of.
    
    One is called Kid's Kingdom and it's in Lunenburg.  It has swings,
    slides, mazes, bridges and a sand box.  It's located just off of 2A
    in downtown Lunenburg.  If you were coming from Leominster into
    Lunenburg, you'd take a left at the post office and then your first
    right.
    
    The next one is located in Fitchburg on Wanoosnoc Rd.  If you were
    coming down Rt. 12 from Leominster, you would take a left onto
    Wanoosnoc (if you took a right, you'd be on Bemis Rd.) and it's
    on the left.  It's called Funtasia Park.  It has all the things that 
    Kid's Kingdom has and is even handicapped accessible.
    
    Another one that I know of is located in Wayland on the corner
    of Rts. 30 and 27.  It also has all the things the other two parks
    have, but is not handicapped accessible.
    
    Lori B.

    Re: .1
    
    No. Reading's 'Kidspot' is located on Chestnut St, about 1 block south
    of Rt.62, next to Moynihan's Lumber, *not* North Reading Lumber (which
    is on Rt 28) as mentioned in reply .1...
    
    Also note that in addition to the attractions already listed, there's a
    full-size soccer field available. 

    RE .4.  The playground in Reading is called the 'Imagination Station'
    and is located right on the grounds of the high school (seems that
    way, anyway - right across from the jr high - Coolidge, I believe).
    
    It's all constructed from pressure treated lumber and has everthing
    imaginable!  Swings, sandbox, and a maze of slides, tunnels, etc.
    
    
    I also just found out there is another one in Merrimack, NH - on
    Rt 3 across from Pizza Man next to the Merrimack Youth Association.
    Same idea as above ...
    
    
    
                                         

    
    re .10 Thanks for the corrections, I always get the two lumber Co's mixed
    up.
    
    re .11 Also thanks for the additions
    
    

    In Sudbury Center, just behind an elementary school, on the east side
    of Route 27, there is an a-maze-ing playground.
    
    There is an architect from Cornell (I don't remember his name) who
    started building these types of playgrounds from pressure-treated
    lumber about 20 years ago.  He is hired by a community group and spend
    time talking with the kids in the community about what they want in
    their playground.  He then designs the playground and supervises the
    construction.  The actual work is typically done by community
    volunteers with donated materials.
    
    The playground I mentioned in Sudbury is one of the best ones I have
    seen.  I helped build the one in Wayland, referenced in an earlier
    note, which is on a smaller scale that the Sudbury one.
    
    Also in Sudbury, about 2 miles west of this playground, off Hudson road
    near the Hudson line, is a "tot lot" aimed at younger kids.  It is also
    very nice, but is of a very different style.

    
    We are about to build "The Littleton Community Playground," in
    Littleton, MA.  The playground is going to be sited on 8 acres of open
    land (that is, the playground will be surrounded by 8 acres of open
    land)--there are tennis courts at the site as well.
    
    Architect Robert Leathers is coming to design the playground in
    April--and building day is scheduled for the fall.
    
    When you see these types of "newfangled" playgrounds, makes you think
    you were deprived as a child!
    
Bonnie
    
    

    Re:14 And I bet it will cost about 60k for everything. I read an
    artical about him and what he does. All the playgrounds that he
    has the kids design is in sections. All he has to do is put the
    sections together and you have a playground plans. I have visited about
    8 of these playgrounds and they are not too different from each other.

    Although the designs are similar, the important point is that *kids
    really like to play on these playgrounds*!  If the kids enjoy them and
    the community gets involved, what better payback?!
    
    
    Judi
    

    RE: .15
    
    There are a number of people and companies that provide "playgrounds". 
    The gentleman refered to a few replies ago, builds these from scratch. 
    The playground built last summer in Mendon was purchased and delivered
    as sections from a company called Children's Playgrounds Inc. (a
    fitting name no?).
    
    Most of the playgrounds/playscapes will appear similar as their designs
    are based upon safety for the children.  Most of the construction time
    is spent preparing the wood for construction.  In the case of Mendon,
    the majority of the wood prep is done at the factory.  The
    pre-constructed sections are trucked complete.  There are some sections
    that are built on site though.  The wood used is pressure treated.  For
    the beams, CPI chose to use laminated beams rather than full sized
    timbers.  The 8x8 support posts were in fact five 2x10s planed down to
    size.  This reduces the possibility of splitting or twisting with age.
    
    Having built the afore mentioned playground, I can say that it is not
    only a lot of work, but an experience in cooperation and teamwork.
    
    The best part of the whole effort is seeing it being used.  And believe
    me... it is used!!!
    
    Dan

    
    In Littleton, we had an entire committee, consisting of about 15
    people, who did nothing for 6 months but visit practically ALL the
    playgrounds in Massachusetts--kids in tow--to see what equipment and
    which playgrounds kids of differing ages liked the best.  The committee
    payed special attention to safety, creativity, etc. when evaluating
    playground equipment.
    
    In was unanimously voted among both parents and children for a Robert
    Leathers playground.  While much of the equipment is the same (a swing
    is a swing--a tire swing is a tire swing--a baby swing is a baby swing,
    etc.), the actual design is different for every community.  We are not
    as concerned as being copycats as we in getting a safe, creative,
    attractive, and fun place for our kids (from ages 0 thru 15) to play.
    
    As far as the cost is concerned, the estimate of $60K is pretty close
    to the mark.  One can go up or down about $10K--depending on how much
    wood and equipment are used, landscaping, etc.
    
    However, none of the money we have raised to date has come out of any
    town budgets, etc.  Everything has come from private donations and VERY
    hard work on the part of the entire Playground Committee.  We have had
    spagetti dinners (with all food donated by our local supermarket, all
    drinks donated by VeryFine, etc.), kids fairs, auctions, you name it. 
    We have had the TOTAL support of the local business community
    (including Lions Club, Rotary, etc.)--we couldn't be doing this without
    that kind of support.
    
    So while I agree it's a whole lot of money--the townspeople are willing
    to pay that kind of money for a new, safe playground.  The 8 acres of
    recreation land was donated by the town, so we don't have land costs as
    well.  
    
    Again, it takes the support of the townspeople and local business, and
    a large, energetic, and creative playground team in order to make this
    happen.
    
    The results, I'm sure, will be well worth it.
    
    

    
    Our townspeople (West Boylston) built one of these playgrounds
    (not sure of the architect/manufacturer) last year - all funds
    raised by the committee, land donated by town.  It is fabulous!
    Kids of all ages have a great time there.   Ours is steel and 
    rubber-over-steel due to concerns around the use of pressure-treated
    lumber.  It was alos very expensive (60k sounds about right) but
    well worth it in our opinion.
    
    Carol

    Is anyone familiar with the new playground in Lincoln, MA?
    I drive by it often going to and from work. The thing that puzzles
    me is that there are never any kids on it! I usually pass it at
    around 2:30 pm on weekdays. Seems a shame...
    
    Lucy

    Lucy,
    
    I think you might find that many playgrounds are relatively empty
    around the 2:30-3:00 timeframe on weekdays, as this is the time when 
    schools are getting out. Between parents picking up their kids or
    waiting for the school busses, and parents with pre-school kids 
    avoiding the oncoming rush of school-age kids, our playground in No.
    Reading can get pretty quiet between 2 and 3. Stop by around 3:30 on 
    a nice day sometime, however, and get a feel for how much pent-up 
    energy can get burned off after school! 
    
    FC

Lucy,

I don't know about Lincoln, but the Sudbury Kidspace (the Robert 
Leathers playground) is on the grounds of one of the elementary schools 
and is therefore off-limits during normal school hours - and the time 
you mention is after most recess periods, I bet.  (Also, as mentioned 
in a previous reply, Sudbury does have another playground geared in 
size and scope to preschoolers and toodlers that is available all the 
time.)

Norma

    Norma,
    
    Thanks - that's the most likely explanation. Yes, the Lincoln
    playground is on the grounds of an elementary school, so it must
    still be off-limits at 2:30. That would explain why I've never 
    seen *one* soul on it at that time. 
    
    Lucy
     

    Auburn, MA, also has a new playground built by the people of the town
    with the help of Robert Leathers (actually, his associate).  It is near
    the ice rink off Southbridge St. (Rte. 12).
    
    It's called Rocketland and features a "rocket" because Robert Goddard,
    "father of modern rocketry," conducted his experiments in Auburn.
    
    Tracy
     
    

    Here's my "finds" for playgrounds:
    
    	Northboro, corner of Route 135 (south Street) and Main St is
    Assabet Park, has swings, a couple wooden things, a small wading pool
    (in season of course), picnic benches and lots of grass in a fenced in
    area.   
    
    Further up South Street, near the Westboro Line is the multipurpose
    field which has ball fields, obstacle tracks, and jungle gym type
    things.
    
    Near where we live, as someone else mentioned is Rocketland playground
    in Auburn.  In Oxford there Carbuncle Pond and Rec area, ajacent to the
    High School on Route 12, there's also Greenbriar Recreation area, north
    of the high school towards Auburn.  They have dirt bike areas, tennis
    courts and softball playing area.
    
    In Webster there's Webster lake (or lake whatever it is with a few
    dozen letters in the name) a great place for swimming, boating and they
    have swings, slides and general playground equipment for the
    youngsters.  
    
    Can't forget the many State Forests in Douglas, one of which (Manchaug
    I believe) has water slides available (for an admission price of
    course).
    
    We also frequent Green Hill Park in Worcester, a really pretty park
    with slides and swings and more important lots and lots of grassy areas
    to run around in.
    
    Lyn
    (the tourguide!?!?)
    

    another great playground in Leominster is at Doyle Field - they
    redid the playground last year (?) and the playground is called
    IMAGINATION STATION !!  My son and his kindergarten friends all
    love it - there are (I think :-}  memory's going !!) three different
    slides, including one that goes around in circles, a "captain's
    deck", swaying bridge, and other stuff.
    
    there are also sets of swings for both little ones as well as the
    older "kids" like me !!  And what I like even more is that there's
    the track right there so after I let Matt get his fun playing, he and
    I can both take a walk around the track a few times so I can get my
    exercise !!
    
    Can't remember the actual street name it's on ( ;-) told you the
    memory is going !!) but can give easy directions if anyone's
    interested.......oh, by the way, there are also tennis courts across
    the street !
    
    

    
    
    	RE: .26
    
    	Priest Street, I think???  Maybe?? I could be wrong
    
    	tigg~~~

	Earlier this month Bolton completed its R. Leather playground.
	The cost was somewhere in the 45K range and it took 5 days to
	complete (the construction phase....fund raising was another
	18 months or so).  The playground is located behind the Emerson 
	School on Rt 117 and during the school year it's closed between 
	10-2:30 monday-friday.  It has the usual collection of swings, 
	slides, tunnels, castles, boat and assorted miscellaneous set-ups.

	[I am re-posting this here at the request of the moderator; the contents
	of my earlier (separate) note violated the conference policy. Sorry!]

	        For residents of Acton and Boxboro:

        You perhaps know about the 10K Walkathon this Sunday (29th) to raise
        funds for the planned Acton Children's Playground (this is going to be
        next to the public library).

        Please consider:

        1. Walking, and getting your friends to do the same.
        2. Supporting this in any other way.

	The success of thie walkathon will determine how soon we can have this
	playground (and not have to go to Concord or Sudbury).

	Thanx, -amitabh.

    Someone earlier mentioned a playground in Merrimack.  Does anyone know
    if it is suitable for toddlers?  Can you use it in the winter?
    
    I have posted a note (#1982) in New_Hampshire, to develop a list of
    playgrounds suitable for young children.
    
    Laura

    There is a small playground with the wooden structures with slides,
    swings, etc. Our daughter loved it when we took her since she was 18
    months old (or may have been even earlier). It is across the street
    (not directly) from the public library.
    
    Shaila

    There's also a playground at Veteran's Park just down the road
    from the Merrimack plant (on Lake Nanticook just past Camp
    Sargent).  Steven enjoyed going there from about age 2.5 - 3.  
    
    --bonnie

    I'm trying to locate the phone number for Bob Leathers group to have
    them come to Haverhill and talk to our PTO's. 
    
    Does anyone have his phone number ???
    
    Thanks,
    Vin