Agenda Text
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Requesting the appropriation of $258,669 in unused bond funds to renovate the Kennedy School Playground.
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Official Text
To the Honorable Board:
I hereby request, subject to the approval of your Honorable Board, an appropriation of $258,669 from unused bond funds from the below listed completed park renovation projects, for the purpose of renovating the Kennedy School Playground.
The following projects have been deemed complete and maintain unexpended balances:
Grimmons Park- $100,757.68
Albion Park -$90,405.56
Hodgkins Park -$26,181.63
Dickerman - $74.39
Chuckie Harris - $22,337.63
Central Hill Park - $18,912.67
Under Chapter 44, Section 20 of the M.G.L., unexpended bond proceeds from completed projects "may at any time be appropriated by a city for any purposes for which a loan may be incurred for an equal or longer period of time than that for which the original loan, including temporary debt, was issued." The Kennedy School Playground qualifies as a "like purpose".
Improvements at the Kennedy School playground are necessary to resolve safety problems with the existing play surface, the out of code play structure, the current swings, and problematic site features like granite benches and broken concrete block retaining walls which have been a source of student injury.
Improvements will include replacement and expansion of the rubber safety surface, more appropriate play features, and all repairs necessary as to meet current safety and playground code requirements. In addition, the new playground design seeks to leverage a variety of new recreation opportunities; expanding the play space, providing new ADA pathways, topographic changes, and new features specifically designed for all the schools children, including those enrolled in special needs programs, and the school’s garden programs.
The playground design was developed as a joint effort with the City Parks and Open Space Program, the Kennedy School Administration and teachers; including special education faculty, the Farms to School program representatives, and CBA Landscape Architects.
With the approval of funding, the renovation of the playground will proceed on a tight schedule starting when school gets out in June 2015, and completed in late August 2015.
Additional funds for the project have already been appropriated in a prior school bond issue.
Respectfully,
Joseph A. Curtatone
Mayor