Playground proposals for Hamner Park

ARLEY - Playground equipment can be a fun time for kids, whether at school or at a park. It is also a time for exercise. Currently, slides and swings are stationed at Hamner Park in Arley. Some recommendations for playgrounds for full physical benefits include, swing, slide, climb, spin, balance and brachiate, which is best described as the use of monkey bars. These last three items were proposed by Terre Sutherland of the Arley Women’s Club at the Arley town meeting Monday, March 2. Sutherland also asked if the town would be willing to include a sidewalk within the playground for the purpose of using a wheelchair. As of now, the structure contains pea gravel, which makes it difficult to walk on and nearly impossible for  wheelchairs and strollers.
“We would like for you to consider (the additions), and we want to be writing grants and asking for private donations for what we’re proposing,” Sutherland informed the council. “The AWC has funds to purchase two pieces right now.” Those two pieces are a Sky Runner and a Jurassic Dinosaur Saddlemate used for balance.
While the two aforementioned items are already funded, there are four more pieces of equipment the AWC would like to purchase through donations and grants: Space Loop Climb (for climbing and brachiate), Discover Cave (for balance and climbing), Buck-a-Bout (for balance) and a large sensory dome.
“The company we have talked to and have given us quotes are GameTime, through J.A. Dawson, distributor, who is in Pelham,” Sutherland said.
In the future, the AWC would also like to add sail shades throughout the playground to protect the equipment.
“The total amount of the equipment is about $30,000, and that’s if the city employees can install with help from husbands of the AWC,” Sutherland continued. “That would save us about $9,000 installation.”