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Reminder Assistant Editor AGAWAM In March the students at Benjamin J. Phelps Elementary School were robbed of their playscape. Three juvenile suspects, currently being prosecuted by the Hampden County District Attorney's Office, allegedly set the playscape on fire, rendering it useless. The estimated cost to replace the structure is $130,000 and town officials are hoping to have the replacement functional by the beginning of the new academic year. On June 16, the City Council voted unanimously to appropriate approximately $90,000 of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds to finance the proposed new playscape. The CPA Committee has also requested that an additional $3,000 of CPA funds be appropriated for safety lighting and security. The town has also received $34,503.10 from Massamont Insurance Agency Inc., for the fire damages. Robert Farrell, principal of Benjamin J. Phelps Elementary School, explained that at first the students were disheartened by the elimination of their playscape but they have learned to find alternative means of recreation. He said the children have the use of swings and the large property adjacent to the school. Farrell noted that to boost morale diagrams of the proposed new playscape have been hung for student and faculty viewing in the main lobby and library. "They're [the students] excited about the replacement [of the playscape]," he said. Currently, an orange fence is blocking off the playscape from student or public use and the section with the most damage was taken away, Farrell noted. Louis Russo, vice chair of the CPA Committee, said that regardless of the fire the CPA had plans for upgrades to each of the four elementary school playscapes. He explained that each will be expanded and upgraded to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Russo said that funding for the remaining playscapes will be appropriated by the CPA Committee after the Phelps playscape is completed this summer. "We should be equally concerned about all our kids in the [school] district," Russo explained. "They should all have full use of CPA funds. We also want to make sure that all playscapes are handicapped accessible so all kids in town can enjoy them." The proposed playscape at Phelps includes a rubber surfacing to allow handicapped students easier access. Mayor Susan Dawson explained that the purpose of the improved playscapes is to ensure that the community reaches a "top" level of service for residents with disabilities. | ||||||
