September 27, 2023 By Carol Britton Meyer
Plans for a new Hingham Community Playground at Cronin Field behind Town Hall are moving forward and include preservation of the plaque honoring those who supported the construction of the original playground and consideration of the future of the commemorative bricks that were laid in 1999 when the playground first opened.
As a first step, the Select Board approved last night a $561,000 agreement between the Hingham Recreation Department and M.E. O’Brien & Sons for ADA-compliant, safe play equipment, site furnishings, and edging equipment to replace the current playground, which is in a state of disrepair. The plan is a cooperative effort with the Recreation Commission.
The rock with the plaque that was installed when the current playground opened will be preserved “to honor those who worked so hard to establish the Hingham Community Playground,” Hingham Rec Director Mark Thorell said.
The plaque acknowledges benefactors, patrons, sponsors, and friends who contributed to making the playground happen “in the spirit of the child in all of us for the children of Hingham.”
The playground committee, consisting of Hingham residents Jill Setian and Sarah Boynton — who came up with the idea — Joshua Krumholz, Ellen Garrow, Tom Maloney, and Aylene Calnan, is also recognized on the plaque.
Select board member William Ramsey — who had a seat on the Recreation Commission when the original playground was installed — recalled Boynton and Setian putting “so much time and energy into it” and being named citizens of the year for their hard work in bringing the project to reality.
“The money came from private fundraising, and the equipment was installed by residents,” Ramsey said. “It was a [far-reaching] community effort, and those involved felt a sense of tremendous pride.”
He expressed appreciation that the plaque will be saved, “even though the playground itself will change.”
In response to Chair Liz Klein asking if saving the commemorative bricks that were installed as part of the original playground is part of the plan, Thorell said that while they aren’t part of the new design plan because safety standards have changed — pour-in-place rubber will be used for the surface this time around — and although the bricks are set in cement, “We will figure out the right way to handle the bricks by either returning them to [those who purchased them to help raise money for the original playground] or come up with another solution, which we will be looking at as well.”
This new state-of-the-art facility will feature multiple imaginary play areas, climbing structures for ages 2-5 and 5-12, a zip line, swings, and picnic area. The footprint will be the same as the current one.
Part of the funding will come from the Rec Department’s revolving fund, Fourth of July Road Race proceeds, donations, and fundraising.
In addition, the Rec Department recently submitted an application to the Community Preservation Committee for $500,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to cover roughly half of the estimated $1.1 million cost. If the CPC ultimately supports funding for the project, voters at the Spring 2024 Annual Town Meeting would make the final decision.
“We’re aiming to fully renovate the playground, which was built 24 years ago. We’ve had a couple of generations of families [using it],” Thorell said. Families from around the South Shore also enjoy visiting the playground.
If all goes as planned, construction would begin in Fall of 2024, with a targeted completion date of late-2024 or early 2025.
They should dedicate the playground to Hingham resident Jill Drohan who basically created the Hingham Rec Department and made it what it is today.