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State Rep. James Arciero announced on Oct. 12 that the final version of the fiscal 2019 state budget, as passed by both the House and Senate and signed by the Governor, contains $50K in funding for a new playground at the Norman E. Day Elementary School in Westford.
“I am very pleased that my amendment for $50,000 in funding for a new playground at the Norman E. Day School was successful. This funding will supplemental all the efforts of former Principal Kevin Regan and the new playground committee in this important recreational effort for the students at the school,” said Arciero.
WATCH THE VIDEO WITH KEVIN REGAN HERE. [Continue below.]
“Principal Regan brought this situation to my attention last spring and we decided to seek state funding in the budget to augment all the great work that the Norman E. Day School playground group did in bringing together the local support of parents and the community. It had been decided that the current playground was no longer safe for the students and needed to be replaced,” noted Arciero.
In 2017, Regan, the former principal of the Day School, and a team of fundraisers planned to raise about $160,000 through Community Preservation funds, requests from the Capital Planning Committee, and sales of bricks with donors’ names. He estimated the total cost of a playground for the Day School would be $171K. If more funds were raised than needed, the extra funds would go back to the town, Regan said.
The new playground’s envisioned design is to include new swings, climbing equipment, and ziplines, and will incorporated universal design principles in order to make the playground accessible to all students at the school.
“As a former student at Norman E. Day School, I have great memories of this school, and I am hopeful that this new playground will likewise make their educational experience at the Day School special for all the students for years to come. I commend former Principal Kevin Regan, current Principal Chris Sardella, all the members of the new playground committee, and all the parents, students and community supporters who came together, to make this new playground a reality,” Arciero said.
The funding is scheduled to be release by the Executive Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in the next few months.
