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Longfellow Playground, which closed in September for renovations, is now open and available for use ahead of its grand opening in the spring of 2025. Installation and inspection of the equipment and site construction are done, but delays in equipment delivery pushed completion of landscaping to the spring. Given the amount of interest in the new playground, ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ and the Town of Brunswick agreed that opening the playground in advance of finishing the landscaping would not negatively impact the project. The plan is to prep and plant the landscaping beds, line the court areas, and add tables and seating, addressing any remaining issues in the spring when suitable weather conditions allow. There could be additional closures at the site to accommodate the remaining work, but any future closure is expected to be of short duration.

With a design that honors beloved concepts used in the previous Longfellow playground, the new plan features natural wood structures and improves safety and accessibility for all users. The project was a collaboration between the College and the Town, with town staff having participated in planning and design development. Sashi Misner, a landscape architect and experienced designer of natural playscapes, worked on the playground’s development with college and town representatives to create safe, accessible, and distinct areas for toddlers and children five to twelve years old.

A survey yielding approximately 500 responses from the public informed the plan for a level, ADA-compliant, woodchip-covered surface that includes rot-resistant natural wood climbing structures and other equipment for different age groups. The flat playing area also provides improved sightlines for parents. The plan reclaimed parts of the adjacent blacktop area and will include plant beds. It also retains the many existing shaded areas, increases the amount of seating available for parents, and features a basketball/multiuse court and low split-rail fencing along Longfellow Avenue.

ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ paid for and managed the project at a cost of approximately $450,000 on property owned by the College. The Town of Brunswick is leasing the playground from the College at a cost of $250 annually over twenty years, for a total town contribution of $5,000. The Town was responsible for disassembling the previous playground that no longer met current safety standards and will provide inspections and maintenance on the new structures.

Once the landscaping and other final touches have been added this spring, a grand opening will honor the playground’s history and the architect’s work and celebrate the successful collaboration between ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ and the Town of Brunswick.