The Wedgwood Playground Improvement Project has been underway for the past couple of years. A community planning effort during the first year resulted in a conceptual plan for the entire playground, one that could be implemented in phases as funds permitted. Our first project, renovation of the Little Playground by the Kihttp://wedgwoodpta.org/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/slidejpg.thumbnail.pngds Time Portable, with the new painted obstacle course, garden, school bus climber, and basketball hoop, is now complete!
Unfortunately, plans for our second project — an outdoor classroom and garden spaces on the north side of the large playground — have hit a stumbling block. Although we have $80,000 and detailed construction drawings, we have been unable to find a contractor. Two bid notices this summer failed to result in a contractor able to do the work within our budget.
The playground committee will be reconvening this coming Saturday, Sept. 23rd, to consider our options at this point. Our challenge is to find the best way to use our funds, while balancing the needs and desires of the school community, the school district, and our major funders (City of Seattle, Starbucks, Safeco). Not an easy task! Possible options include rebidding the project in the winter, when contractors may be looking for work, reducing the scale of the project, splitting the project into smaller components, or “re-imagining” the plan altogether.
We invite you to join us and help make this project happen. Especially needed are folks with technical expertise in design or construction. Teachers are also welcome. At Saturday’s meeting, we will review current construction plans, discuss options, and consider the best way to move forward on the project. The meeting will be held at Pam Ivezic’s house, 2555 NE 85th Street, from 10:00 until noon. For information, directions, or to be added to the email list for this project, please contact Pam at ivezic@tcnj.edu.
Eleanor Boba
eleanorboba@comcast.net
