Tucker PTO seeks community donations and town support for $621,000 playground rebuild
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Summary
Tucker PTO told the Milton School Committee it has an estimated $621,000 build cost for a redesigned Tucker School playground, has completed a mural and site survey, and is pursuing CPC design funds (~$100,000) and a possible $100,000 state earmark while ramping up town‑wide fundraising.
Tucker parents and PTO leaders presented a plan to rebuild the small, aging playground at the Tucker School, estimating a construction cost of about $621,000 and outlining a fundraising plan that seeks both town and state support.
At a Nov. 19 School Committee meeting, PTO co‑president Marika Golden Silva and other parent volunteers described a play area with a broken rock wall, limited grass space and frequent playground injuries. A PTO representative told the committee, “This is our estimated total budget of $621,000.” The presenters said they have completed a mural and a PTO‑funded site survey and are in the design‑hiring phase.
The PTO reported it has already secured a CPC (Community Preservation Committee) recommendation for roughly $100,000 toward design costs, pending town meeting approval, and that local officials have discussed pursuing a $100,000 state earmark for construction. The PTO plans to hire a landscape architect, select a design firm this month and begin a town‑wide fundraising push, including precinct mailers, a spring event and an alumni reunion. Organizers set a target of completing construction by summer 2027 so students can use the new playground in fall 2027.
Superintendent Mr. Fallon and other committee members encouraged immediate online donations; presenters directed donors to a new donation page on tuckerpto.com that will earmark funds for the playground. The PTO said it will continue to pursue foundation grants and coordinate letters of support from district leaders to strengthen grant applications.
Next steps listed by the PTO are finalizing a design firm selection, continuing public fundraising and advancing required approvals at town meeting. The committee did not take a formal vote on any playground funding during the meeting; presenters asked for the committee’s letters of support and for help connecting to municipal resources during the construction phase.
The PTO presentation included multiple references to grant applications and matching requests; the CPC recommendation and state discussions were described as contingent on town approval and the state earmark process, respectively.