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Managing Editor SPRINGFIELD Thanks to a $5,000 grant from Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO), the 106 students at the Springfield Day Nursery facility at 957 Main St. now have a better place to play outdoors. "The children are so happy," said Gail Price, director of the Main Street school. "Of course they want to be out here all day." "And the teachers absolutely love it," she added. Springfield Day Nursery and WMECO officials gathered Thursday morning for an informal "ground-breaking" of the new play area. Rodney Powell, president and COO of WMECO joined Springfield Day Nursery President and CEO Joan Kagan in a sandbox with students Minerva Castenda, Mikala Scott and Alexander Mendoza to ceremoniously toss several shovels of sand. Kagan said that the "very generous grant" allowed the Day Nursery to meet the needs of its students and their families. Price explained to Reminder Publications that the grant paid for the removal of bushes in the area, the addition of canopies to provide shade, a storage area, new toys, the sandbox and a thick layer of wood mulch that provides a safer and cleaner surface for the children. The renovations to the space were made at the beginning of this month. Powell said that education contributes to economic development and that, by helping organizations such as this one, "strong vibrant communities" are built. He also noted that to make positive changes in Springfield, one needs to start with helping children at this age. |
