Local officials unhappy with playgrounds situation

The Community Preservation Committee voted unanimously Monday evening (March 13) to recommend up to $100,000 be allotted at Town Meeting to help bring three playgrounds in town up to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act after the Massachusetts Architectural Access Board advised local officials that the playgrounds were not up to code.

At Deer Hill, according to Superintendent Louise Demas, the MAAB requested the replacement of the playground ground cover in addition to the accommodation of an adjusted swing area and other rearrangements to improve accessibility to the equipment. School playgrounds were not the only ones affected, however.

At the Beechwood playground, according to Recreation Department Director Ted Carroll, the MAAB requested the replacement of the playground ground cover as well in addition to adding a swing with handicap access. The playground at the library must also be brought up to code.

The new surface that would replace the current playground surfaces would be made of a rubber compound, something the MAAB finds safer than the woodchips found at playgrounds throughout the Commonwealth. This would help provide a pathway or students with mobile limitations.

Should they not comply with the MAAB's new requirements, Selectman Diane Kennedy said the playgrounds could be shut down.

"It sounds like a stick up, doesn't it?" said CPC member Michael Dickey. Many of his colleagues agreed.

"This is your parents asking you to take out the trash and there is only one answer," said CPC Chair Russell Bonetti.

To bring the playgrounds in question up to code, Carroll requested up to $61,000 to make the necessary improvements at the Beechwood and library playgrounds. Demas requested up to $39,000 be allotted for the Deer Hill playground.

While they felt pressured into doing so, the CPC knew making the improvements was the right thing to do. But as Carroll noted, Cohasset isn't the only community with Community Preservation funds that is being targeted by the state on this issue.

According to Carroll, anonymous complaints have been filed in a number of nearby communities - including Hingham, Norwell, Southborough and Westborough - regarding playground compliance with ADA standards. Hull, on the other hand, has not been subject to this level of scrutiny, he said.

Local officials have since reached out to Cohasset's state senator Patrick O'Connor (R - Weymouth) and representative Joan Meschino (D - Hull), both of whom were reportedly taken aback by the situation. Demas said the two did not realize this was happening in select towns.

Since first meeting with the MAAB about the playgrounds, Demas has engaged legal counsel in a conversation around how to proceed with their concerns. Demas said counsel has advised her that it will be very difficult to get Governor Charlie Baker to change his opinion on how this matter is handled.

The recent turn of events has frustrated the CPC, which appropriated $89,000 last year to help bring the Beechwood and library playgrounds up to a certain code. Kennedy was particularly upset by the board's demands.

Demas had previously stated that the MAAB office had once expressed willingness to compromise with the town a year-and-a-half ago, but said the Board itself has been much more stringent with their guidelines.

If possible, Demas said she would like to complete the work at the Deer Hill playground over April break should weather and other circumstances permit. A series of hearings with the MAAB are scheduled to begin Thursday (March 22) to discuss the issue.