Yarmouth committee approves $50,000 recommendation for Station Ave Elementary ADA playground surfacing

The Town of Yarmouth Community and Economic Development Committee recommended $50,000 on March 11 to help install an ADA-compliant poured-in-place rubber surface at Station Ave Elementary School's playground.

Courtney Butler, chair of the Community and Economic Development Committee, said the committee moved to consider the physical-improvement request and later put a motion to approve the $50,000 request; the motion passed by voice vote.

The applicant described the playground project as a community effort that has been under way since 2019 and said much of the existing playground — originally installed in the mid-1990s — is outdated and limits access for students with mobility needs. The presenter said, “Having a state of the art playground that is ADA compliant right off the highway in the heart of Yarmouth, I think, is an attraction to the town.” The speaker identified themselves as a Station Ave Elementary School representative (first reference provided to the committee).

Project organizers told the committee they have initial approvals for two outside grants — listed in the application as $200,000 from the CPI and $200,000 from the CPA — plus district funds, a special-education grant and PTO fundraising. The presenter said a special-education grant would contribute roughly $60,000 toward an accessible swing and related equipment. The full playground was estimated in the discussion at about $600,000.

Committee members pressed on sequencing and funding timing: equipment lead times were described as about 10–15 weeks and approvals from the CPC and other grant bodies were described as pending town meeting votes. The presenter said the CPC and CPA decisions still must be ratified at Town Meeting; the committee was told Town Meeting is scheduled for April 29.

Committee members and others noted the playground is used by the school and the broader community because it sits adjacent to high-use fields, and speakers emphasized the project’s benefit to multigenerational and mobility-impaired visitors. Committee member Karen Green (first referenced by the committee) told the applicant, “I think you have the funding in hand,” after reviewing the grant status.

After questions about whether a phased installation would be possible, the applicant said partial installation has been priced but that breaking the project into phases is also costly and may disrupt the site. The applicant noted one student who needs full-accessible surfacing will enter third grade next year, making timely completion more urgent for that child.

The committee voted to approve the requested $50,000 recommendation. The committee chair said the committee will send a letter to the CPC and the select board to advise them of the committee’s recommendation and to support the articles at Town Meeting. Timing discussed by applicants and staff anticipated ordering equipment soon after the grant votes and aiming for a mid- to late-summer installation window.

Next steps: the committee will forward its recommendation to the select board and notify the CPC; the applicant and volunteers intend to continue private fundraising and prepare for equipment ordering after the grant votes.