East Lyme board OKs up to $85,000 for integrated preschool playground with accessibility modifications

The East Lyme School District Board of Education on July 13 approved a purchase not to exceed $85,000 for phase 1 of a replacement integrated preschool playground, to be funded through the district’s revenue account.

Board members said the existing playground structure is roughly 25 years old and that the district has been building funds for the replacement over several years. A staff member described the selected design as an upgrade that includes shade features and noted that some elements were modified after input from the district physical therapist "to be helpful, you know, for our kids."

Board members asked about what the equipment would look like; staff said they had shown the board pictures and a revision that keeps the catalog look but incorporates those accessibility modifications. A vendor timeline was shared: the sales representative said about six to eight weeks from receiving a purchase order to delivery, with installation scheduled afterward.

A committee member moved to approve the purchase of new integrated preschool playground equipment not to exceed $85,000, funded through the revenue account as presented; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. Members noted that if a final vendor invoice differed from the approved amount, the board would address that at a later meeting if necessary.

The approval covers phase 1 of a multi-phase replacement; the board did not approve subsequent phases during this meeting.