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Gardiner Common Playground Presentation Meeting to be Held June 2nd
The City is moving forward on its playground selection process for the Gardiner Common! A playground committee, chaired by Ingrid Stanchfield, has recently reviewed a number of proposals and will meet on June 2, 2009 at 6:00 PM at the City Hall Council Chambers to hear presentations by the three playground manufacturing finalists. The public is encouraged to attend. This meeting is a great opportunity for interested members of the community to hear what is being presented and to offer comments or questions. Hard copies of (3) finalist proposals are now available for review at City Hall, Planning & Development Office. The committee appreciates your ideas, so please feel free to stop by and check out proposals, or come to the meeting on June 2nd!
Once the presentations are heard, the committee will decide on a finalist and form a recommendation to the City Council. The City conducted a request for proposals process for this project in April and plans to install the new playground this year. Gardiner received timely funding support from both the Maine Department of Conservation’s Land and Water Conservation Fund as well as donations from Gardiner’s Professional Firefighters Local 2303.
Replacing the wooden playground was identified as a high priority in the city’s 2008 Master Plan for the Common. Last year, the public participated in several workshops and provided feedback on a number of issues, including whether the playground should stay or go, concerns about public safety, and maintenance issues to name a few. Final approval came with the Council’s adoption the Common Master Plan on July 30th, 2008. (To view the complete Master Plan for the Common, please go to: http://www.gardinermaine.com/Public_Documents/GardinerME_EcDev/gardinercommonplan. In connection with this process, the City determined it was necessary to remove the existing playground facility, as it had reached the end of its useful life.
Built in 1989, the City’s wooden playground has served as a fun outdoor recreation meeting place for lots of families and children. Its’ location, virtually in the center of the community, make it an easy destination to walk or drive to. Once completed, the new playground will be a great place for outdoor recreation once again.
If interested in learning more about the Common, or other planning projects, please contact Jason Simcock, Planning & Development Director, at 207-582-6888, or email to econdev@gardinermaine.com.
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