DERBY – Students at Bradley Elementary School had their first chance to romp, swing and climb on the school’s new playground after a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday (Aug. 22).
“There is an incredible connection between the community in Derby, and there’s just a ton of heart and caring,” state Rep. Mary Welander said as happy kids flocked to the new playground. “They will do what needs to be done to make things happen for their city,” she said.
The school’s previous playground was closed in April after an inspection deemed it unsafe. The old playground was around 18 years old.
Derby leaders, including Superintendent Matthew Conway, Derby Board of Education Chairman Jim Gildea, Mayor Joseph DiMartino and the Board of Aldermen & Alderwomen, and new Bradley PTA President Eric Lazowski, joined forces to make sure a new playground was built prior to the start of the first day of school, scheduled for Sept. 2.
The new playground is from Playground Boss, whose employees finished installing the structures Thursday evening. The city’s department of public works prepped the site, in addition to taking down and hauling away the old playground last spring.
The total cost was $158,424. The City of Derby and Derby Public Schools each contributed $64,894.56 to the project. The grassroots Bradley School Playground Project raised $28,634.87 toward the project.
Eric and Heather Lazowski led the effort to replace the playground starting two years ago. Eric Lazowski, who attended Bradley as an elementary school student, is now the president of the school’s parent-teacher group.
Gildea, the school board chairman, pointed out the family’s commitment to the project.
“Eric Lazowski, my God, every pancake breakfast, car wash, McDonald’s night. If there was an event in Derby, he was there collecting money. What an amazing job, Eric, thank you so much,” Gildea said.
Lazowski thanked the Bradley families and the larger Derby community for their generosity, telling the about 100 people at the ribbon-cutting to give themselves a round of applause.
Conway said Lazowski’s efforts mirror the efforts of Derby’s Jim Stadt, who himself stood up to spearhead the replacement of the playground about 18 years ago.
Stadt had a daughter in kindergarten at the time. He’s a grandfather now. He said the former superintendent 18 years ago wanted to do away with the playground entirely. But Stadt organized a group, raised money – and spent a day rebuilding the playground themselves.
He said it was nice to see the same spirit displayed again in Derby. Stadt took the day off to watch the ribbon cutting.
Mayor DiMartino said the city money toward the playground is from blight fines collected by the city on properties in such disrepair they pose a threat to health and safety. Properties put on the blight list are subject to $100 a day fines, which start after a series of written warnings.
“Of my two years in office, this is the highlight, by far,” the mayor said of the new playground.
Derby Public Schools Facilities Director Jim Hoffman said the new playground is 100 feet long and 60 feet wide, the same footprint as the previous playground. It has a lifetime of about 20 years.
The article continues after the WTNH report.
The main playscape can hold up to 100 kids. There’s also a new swingset and a spinning “merry go round.” The playground is ADA compliant. Two pieces are on back order – a “saucer” that holds about six kids, and a 30-foot zipline, whose mention drew “ohhs and ahhs” from the large group of kids in attendance.
“Boys and girls, I took care of you,” Bradley School Principal Mario Ciccarini said. ”When we were picking out playgrounds, I said I need something that you’re going to love and it’s going to scare your teachers,” he joked. “I think that mission was accomplished.”
A press release from April said there would be a formal committee formed to plan and pick a new playground. Mayor DiMartino said that never happened because it was quicker for the city and schools to pool their resources and pick a contractor given the tight deadline.
The project was put out to bid. Officials said about six companies looked at the site before Playground Boss was chosen.