Cross Street playground is the subject of a neighborhood meeting June 5, 2019. (Hope E. Tremblay Photo)
WESTFIELD – Westfield resident Mandi Rodriguez is thrilled that her wish for a playground for children of all abilities is coming to fruition.
Several years ago, Rodriguez brought her idea for such a playground to the city. Since then, Director of Development Peter J. Miller hosted numerous meetings and jumped through many hoops and is now presenting plans for renovations at Cross Street Playground to the public June 5.
Mayor Brian P. Sullivan will solicit feedback from neighborhood residents during the meeting, which is at 6 p.m. at the playground.
According to a press release from Sullivan’s office, the highlight of the proposed renovation is the installation of an all-abilities playground with accessible surfacing and a playscape that integrates features to allow for people of all ability levels to play together.
Rodriguez said she supplied the city with as much information as she could from her research and even raised some funds toward the project.
“I did raise some funds — not a lot — but close to $400 on my own with donations from the gofundme,” she said.
The city has worked with R. Levesque Associates on a concept plan for the improvements to the park, which currently houses a small playscape, a baseball diamond, and a grass panel in need of improvement. The concept plan includes an accessible path from existing parking on the northern portion of the property to the planned playscape and pavilion area, which is located on the southern end of the property.
“The rehabilitation of Cross Street Playground and specifically this all-abled playground model has generated a great deal of support from the community at large,” Sullivan said. “This meeting is to solicit support and feedback from the Cross Street neighborhood to ensure we are meeting their needs and addressing their concerns with our design.”
The state grant being sought is through the Executive Office of Energy & Environment and could provide a maximum of 70 percent reimbursement up to $400,000.
“Cross Street Playground holds a special place for many of us in Westfield,” Sullivan said. “The site has always served an important public purpose and we hope to make it special once again.”
Rodriguez said she can’t wait for her child with special needs to be able to play alongside other children, and she has set her sights on other ways to improve the area.
“I have so many other ideas as well for the grounds around the playground and the equipment such as a community garden and a Free Little Library that I have been building in my spare time and am just waiting for the playground to be ready so I can set it up,” she said. “I have been filled in about the plans and I have to say I am so very excited. It looks beautiful.”
