The Orange Playground Committee is pleased to invite the children of Orange to start playing at our new playground at Fred Wolfe Park, 300 Hollow Road Orange.
This project was funded mainly by two State of Connecticut Grants totaling $500,000 including a $300,000 STEAP grant and $200,000 in State bonding requested by State Representative Mary Welander, specifically Funding provided by the Urban Act grant administered by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
First Selectman James Zeoli appointed the Committee, which includes residents Travis Ewen, Lynn Plaskowitz, Blair Pierce, Charles Flynn, and Marisa Asarisi. The Committee also led fundraising which successfully totaled more than $15,000 in donations from generous members of the Orange Community which were used to procure improvements such as memorial bricks, benches, accessible tables, and trees.
The playground includes ADA-accessible activities for all children. Highlights include a towering play-packed structure offering distant views to the park beyond, multiple slides, climbing features, ramped ADA-
accessible play features, ADA-accessible swings for different ages and abilities, and sensory play elements. The playground features a variety of poured-in-place and natural surfaces for accessibility and safety, as well as a paved tenth-of-a-mile walking loop, and secure fencing.
accessible play features, ADA-accessible swings for different ages and abilities, and sensory play elements. The playground features a variety of poured-in-place and natural surfaces for accessibility and safety, as well as a paved tenth-of-a-mile walking loop, and secure fencing.While open for Play currently, the Committee asks for your patience as our final projects are completed in the very near future, specifically the fall planting of six trees, formal signage, accessible picnic tables, and memorial bricks and benches. Play on!
Editor’s Note: Many residents already have begun frequenting the playscape and enjoy the many opportunities it offers their children, from tots to pre-teens. They like the picnic tables and park benches and appreciate the setback “private” parking lot which adds a sense of added security, distancing children from the traffic in the playing field parking lot.
A lot of thought and careful planning went into this playground, right now, the grounds are pristine. Please respect the area and throw your trash away (or recycle) in one of the bins provided by the town. Most of all, Enjoy this beautiful playground.
