The first visible signs of the community center project are appearing in the form of two projects that are about to get underway before main construction starts this summer.
Workers have trimmed tree and put up fencing in Strat’s Place between Lincoln Road and the main Hartwell building in preparation for building a new playground. The former wooden playground dating from 1989 was taken down 10 years ago amid safety concerns. Work to trim or cut down ailing or old trees is complete, and the chain link fencing is temporary while workers perform soil remediation (removing soil containing nails and splinters as well as buried tarmac and playground supports). By this summer, the area will be grassed over.
Workers have trimmed tree and put up fencing in Strat’s Place between Lincoln Road and the main Hartwell building in preparation for building a new playground. The former wooden playground dating from 1989 was taken down 10 years ago amid safety concerns. Work to trim or cut down ailing or old trees is complete, and the chain link fencing is temporary while workers perform soil remediation (removing soil containing nails and splinters as well as buried tarmac and playground supports). By this summer, the area will be grassed over.
“Our expectation is to have this work completed by June, so that the Magic Garden children have a play area during construction,” said Community Center Building Committee member Alison Taunton-Rigby. Magic Garden is responsible for funding and installing the play structures will eventually go there.
Bids are due on February 5 for the new school maintenance shop in the first floor in the southwest corner of the Hartwell building, replacing some small office and storage rooms. Work on the $185,000 project is expected to take place in the spring so that the shop can be relocated from Pod B by May or June.
The two projects will pave the way for construction of the community center, which is expected go out to bid in April, break ground in July, and finish by late fall 2026. A detailed budget update and other documents can be found on this CCBC web page.