After a great musical reception Oct. 19, the Nanuet Board of Education dived into more serious matters. Superintendent Mark McNeill and the board members discussed closing down the old wooden playground across the street from Highview Elementary completely for safety and liability reasons
"More recently, it has been determined by the District's insurance company that based upon their inspection the playground must be removed and/or taken out of service as it is past its useful life and poses a hazard," said McNeill. "Over the summer, a new playground was added to the back of Highview. This is the first year children aren't walking across the street to use it."
Back at the Sept. 13 meeting of the Elementary PTA, Highview Elementary Principal Barbara Auriemma told the parents in attendance that the new playground built over the summer was complete and that the students will no longer be using the wooden playground across the street.
"There's one major change this year: recess. From the insurance standpoint, the students will not be crossing the street to the other playground anymore," Auriemma said. "Our hearts beat sometimes a second beat when we see them crossing that street. The insurance company gave us a phasing out period."
At the board meeting last night, Kevin Sawyer, a construction manager from Triton Construction, and Doug Chu, an architect from KSQ Architects P.C., presented to the board an update on the Five-Year Facilities Plan, which details the necessary renovations needed at each school from restrooms to new doors.
This subject segued into the Highview playgrounds both old and new. The new one behind the school was built over the summer and cost $60,000 to install it. This new playground expanded the already existing playground behind the school, which are all open to the public on weekends and over the summer. During the school week, the Family Resource Center uses it for their after-school program
Here's a quick timeline of the old wooden playground:
1990: built by the community's "bare hands." The Board of Education gave permission to raise funds and erect a Leathers Associates playground designed in part by Nanuet School District children.
2003: the district sank $58,790 into the playground "to keep it going." it was renovated and made handicap accessible by community volunteers working under the direction of Leathers Associates.
2006: New York Playground Survey Results listed this playground and about 70 others as unsafe. The survey listed two playground risks: unsafe equipment height and clothing entanglement.
2007: New York insurance company brought up the useful life expectancy of the playground and said it was a serious liability.
The issue the board faces now is that this playground is still open to the public although their own students are not using it anymore for safety reasons.
"It's used by people in the town of Clarkstown and people everywhere. We couldn't get funding this time to save it," said McNeill. "It's a little hypocritical (to let the community use it). It's our legal responsibility to not have it open anymore."
"The playground is not in a state of repair," said Sawyer. "It's reached its useful life expectancy."
Several of the board members agreed and said that as much as this playground has been a cherished community memory, they need to "bite the bullet" and close it permanently.
Rudy Villanyi, facilities manager for the Nanuet School District, said it may take $8,600-9,000 to dismantle and remove the playground.
"I think it should come down relatively soon," he said.
The board also discussed what to do with the empty spot after the playground goes. Right now it's still undecided, but they know they need to move quickly.
"We need to take it down regardless for safety reasons," said Board Member Anne Byrne adding that they need to get word out to the community as fast as possible.
"It's such an important part of the community. The community truly built it," said Byrne. "We didn't have contractors come in, just (their) bare hands. It was an incredible experience how this (playground) started from nothing.
In a letter McNeill released today, he answered some anticipated questions.
Q: Why do we have to remove the Highview playground? It is a safety issue and the District is obligated to protect the public from injuries and accidents. Q: How did you learn that the playground is unsafe? The District was notified by its insurance carrier's certified playground inspector that the playground poses a safety risk. The District's insurance company has been reluctant to cover the playground for the last few years and we have now exhausted this option.
Q: Can the playground be repaired? No. The materials used in this wooden playground including the infrastructure have a life expectancy of 20 years.
Q: What is involved in the removal of the playground? All wood and plastic structures will be removed in their entirety and disposed of. After removal the site will be graded.
Q: What are you going to do with the space after the playground is removed? In the near future the District will consider all options and ideas for use of this space at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education.
Q: Where can children play in the interim? The new Highview School playground (situated behind the Highview School building) is available on weekends and during school vacations. (On school days Highview's afterschool program uses this playground until 6 p.m.)
In memory of this community icon and its near-future closing date, Patch is collecting memories and pictures related to the old Highview playground for an article. If you have a specific memory or picture you’d like to share about the playground, please send it in: Kim@Patch.com
Highview Playground To Be Closed
It is a safety issue and the District is obligated to protect the public from injuries and accidents.
Q: How did you learn that the playground is unsafe?
The District was notified by its insurance carrier's certified playground inspector that the playground poses a safety risk. The District's insurance company has been reluctant to cover the playground for the last few years and we have now exhausted this option.
No. The materials used in this wooden playground including the infrastructure have a life expectancy of 20 years.
All wood and plastic structures will be removed in their entirety and disposed of. After removal the site will be graded.
In the near future the District will consider all options and ideas for use of this space at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Education.
The new Highview School playground (situated behind the Highview School building) is available on weekends and during school vacations. (On school days Highview's afterschool program uses this playground until 6 p.m.)