Cove Picnic Area 1 plan: PTO pledges $5,000 and staff seeks to install ADA path to Cove School play area

Deirdre Hart and Nick Cartagena presented a proposal on May 19 to refresh Cove Picnic Area 1, replace picnic tables and construct an ADA‑accessible connecting path to the Cove School play area.

Cartagena said the design would replace worn picnic tables (staff plan to use 8‑foot recycled‑plastic tables for most seating), create a concrete ADA path from the school play area to the picnic area, relocate the grill and provide decomposed‑granite surfacing around picnic spots. He estimated the project cost at about $50,000 and said the school PTO has committed $5,000 toward the work, leaving an approximate $45,000 town share.

"The concrete path would go from the play area up to the picnic area," Cartagena said, and staff aim to complete construction before Aug. 8 so the school can use the field after summer. Hart said the town met with Cove School leadership (Principal Michelle Walker and the facilities director) on April 29, and the school indicated general support for the plan.

Commissioners and school representatives noted that the new path will likely function as a bicycle thoroughfare used by children walking and biking to the school; they asked staff to ensure the design is wide enough for the anticipated foot and bike traffic and to consider grill placement so it does not sit adjacent to a high‑traffic route.

No formal vote was taken. Staff said they would move forward with design and coordination with the school and the PTO and planned to return with final plans and a schedule for work that the commission can authorize.