Jackson Park Playground Project Raising Funds

Kevin Donaher is hopeful that construction can begin on Jackson Park Playground at the end of the summer or the beginning of fall. 

Donaher, a member of the Jackson Park Playground committee, has been part of this project for about three of four years.

He has seen it grow from the idea it was in the beginning to today, when the fruits of their labor have resulted in funds.

On Saturday, the group was accepting metal scraps that they can turn into a scrap company in Everett for a fraction of money. 

These metal drives usually raise anywhere from $500 to $1000 for the project, according to Donaher.

Donaher hopes that with the completion of the playground there will be a half-basketball court, a handball court and a sledding hill for kids to use when it snows during the winter. 

"The playground equipment alone costs about $55,000," Donaher said. "But, it's state of the art equipment. It's handicapped accessible."

The total cost of the project, according to Donaher is $180,000. 

Donaher said that people usually don't realize how beautiful the area is. At the completion of the project not only will there be a playground, but also benches and picnic tables for the entire community. 

"It's a great spot for elders that want a place to go and relax," Donaher said.

Donaher said that the Board of Selectmen has been instrumental in the success of the project. 

"I've gotten an awful lot of support from the town," Donaher said. 

Matt Strauss, who was elected chairman of the board in May, is supportive of the project. 

This is his third year on the board and has been around almost since the project's inception, Strauss noted.

"I think we have got such little open space in our town as it is, I think that it's really important to preserve," Strauss said. "We may never be capable of increasing, but it's certainly important to preserve."

Strauss has been a resident of the area for 20 years and lives near the park. He remembers the area before the high school was built. There were ball fields and an ice skating rink. 

"It's almost like something was taken away, like something is missing," Strauss said. 

Donaher agrees. 

"We really needed a place for our kids to come and play and be in a safe area," he said.