Woodland School principal Emma Rood included this tractor as part of a project to build a new playground at the school. Her application to fund the project using Community Preservation Act funds was approved by the town’s Community Preservation Committee.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
SOUTHWICK — Woodland School Principal Emma Rood showed she was listening, like any good student, to feedback from members of the Community Preservation Committee when she appeared before the committee to request funds for a new playground.
“So yeah, I did add a bench [after] you guys said to ask for what I really needed. So, I did,” Rood said to committee member Bryan Walker after he asked if she had included equipment in the updated Community Preservation Act application to fund the playground project.
“In thinking about how the public and the school might use [the playground], I added a bench so that when families were to come, they could sit. But it’s called a buddy bench. What it’s meant for is that if somebody is lonely or nobody’s playing with them, they sit on the buddy bench. And a buddy would come over. That’s the idea,” Rood said during the CPC’s meeting on Oct. 28.
In September, Rood made her first appearance before the committee after submitting an application to fund a new playground at the school that would accommodate 3-year-olds and students with mobility challenges.
For the equipment and installation, she had requested about $85,000.
During the Oct. 28 meeting, the price increased significantly because she included a large shade umbrella and additional pieces for the playground.
She added a “Big John” tractor.
“I added the tractor [to represent] Southwick’s agricultural history, which I thought would be cute,” she said.
A school bus will also be at the site.
“The school bus because obviously the kids love the school buses and not all kids get to ride the school bus. So, this way six or six or eight kids get to drive it at once, which I thought was pretty cute,” Rood said.
With those additions and fencing, the project is estimated to cost $240,000.
In the application, Rood said the school’s current playground doesn’t fully meet the needs of the school’s preschoolers and kindergartners.
“This project will create an inclusive, developmentally appropriate play space where all children can safely explore, build motor skills, and develop friendships,” she wrote.
Funding and building it would “ensure that every child in Southwick, regardless of age or ability, can participate fully in the joy of play.”
She said the playground also aligns with the goals of Southwick’s Open Space and Recreation Plan, which calls for expanded, accessible recreation opportunities.
“By removing barriers to play, this project protects one of our greatest resources: the potential of our youngest learners and the right of every child to belong,” she said.
When Rood made her initial presentation in September, committee member and former School Committee member Russ Fox said he fully supported the idea.
“As I said before, our school was recognized for what we’ve done for mobility challenges for students at Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District. So, I think this is a tremendous project, and it will continue that tradition that our school system’s been recognized for,” Fox said.
The committee voted unanimously to approve the application. Town Meeting will decide on funding the project during its next meeting.
Because there is no immediate need for a Special Town Meeting in the coming months, the next Town Meeting will be held in May.
In other CPC business, the committee continued its discussion about acquiring a 23-acre privately owned parcel that is at the rear of the 122-acre Sofinowski Preserve on Mort Vining Road.
In the back center of the 122-acre property that abuts the Connecticut state line is a 23-acre privately owned parcel.
The committee approved up to $10,000 in administrative funds to have the property appraised if the property owner agrees.
Committee member Dennis Clark said he continues to work on two applications for Agricultural Preservation Restrictions — one for a piece of farmland on Coes Hill Road and another on College Highway.
The College Highway parcel is the property at the corner of Tannery Road that was the proposed site of the Carvana facility.
The committee approved funding to appraise those two properties.
The CPC allocates funds in four areas: housing, historical preservation, open-space protection and recreation. The money comes from a surtax on property taxes in the town and matching grants from the state. The town keeps the money separate from its general budget.
As of June 30, the CPC has access to $2.7 million in undesignated funds, $724,783 for community housing, $307,238 for historic preservation and $76,324 for open space. The state Division of Local Services’ report did not include the available funds for recreation.
