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Parents, superintendent outline plan to replace T Ticket playground; CPC application and town support expected
Summary
Parents and the superintendent described a community campaign to replace the closed T Ticket playground, reporting roughly $60,000 raised by volunteers and a pledge of at least $50,000 from the Falmouth Road Race board; the district plans a CPC application and to include the project in its capital plan with an estimated total cost around $388,000.
Parents and school leaders described progress toward replacing the T Ticket School playground after the play area was deemed unsafe. Dominique Kirk, speaking during public comment, said parents and staff have created a committee to build an ADA‑inclusive playground and "we have already raised $60,000." She urged the district to make playground funding a regular line item in school budgets rather than relying solely on grant cycles.
The superintendent told the committee the district will apply to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) under the "loss of a town asset" category (application deadline April 8) and will include the playground as a capital project in the district capital plan. Finance staff outlined the CPC/town‑meeting timetable: CPC application in spring, CPC approvals and town meeting appropriation typically effective in November; the playground project was estimated in discussion at about $388,000, with the gap to be covered by fundraising, CPC amounts and other capital planning measures.
"At a minimum, [the Road Race board] will be contributing $50,000," the superintendent said, reporting a pledge from the Road Race organizers. District staff said they expect, weather permitting, to be able to install the playground as soon as funding is in hand — possibly in the November/December window — and that they will pursue a combination of community fundraising, CPC funds, and capital‑plan appropriations to close the remaining gap.
Why it matters: Parents and staff described the playground as essential for sensory regulation and motor development, particularly for students in the district's largest special‑education program. The committee heard multiple public requests that playgrounds be treated as standard capital items and not depend solely on time‑limited grants.
Next steps: The superintendent and finance director described the administrative steps to apply to CPC and to place a capital appropriation on the November warrant; the playground committee will continue fundraising. The administration indicated it will provide details and capital planning materials to the committee while pursuing the CPC application.
