ADA Accessibility Project, Special Town Meeting

ARTICLE 49 COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ADA ACCESSIBILITY 60 CEDAR STREET

To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from the Community Preservation Fund Undesignated Fund Balance the sum of FIVE HUNDRED FORTY-SIX THOUSAND SIXTYONE AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($546,061.00) for the purposes of engineering, permitting, construction, and purchasing of playground equipment necessary for ADA compliance in the parking area and pavilion at the Recreational facility at 60 Cedar Street; including all costs incidental and related thereto; or take any action relative thereto.

Sponsor: Community Preservation Committee

RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE: That the Town vote to approve the article as written. Voted: 6 – 0 – 0.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN: That the Town vote to approve the article as written. Voted 5 – 0 – 0.

RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE: That the Town vote to approve the article as written. Voted 6 – 0 – 0.

Town of Sturbridge,

The ADA Accessibility Project for 60 Cedar St addresses accessibility needs for pathways to the building, bathrooms, Town Playground, and access to the Town Beach. This also includes converting the playground to ADA compliance; upgrading the flooring to compliance and adding an accessible amenity for our residents.

Upgrading the rubber chip flooring to a poured in place material (ex/ Burgess playgrounds) is necessary to provide ADA compliance and also addresses environmental concerns, as the current rubber chips wash into Cedar Lake. The ability for the current surfacing to move also creates unsafe fall zones for the children using the equipment. The poured in place is a pervious material, having good porosity is an important aspect of playground surfacing because it manages drainage and makes cleaning up easy, without impacting the surface. The new playground amenity, We-Go-Round, is an inclusive merry-go-round that provides ample room for kids and families to interact and play together – including those in wheelchairs. The integrated roof provides shade, and the center handhold allows riders to participate in the spinning fun.

Discussions for sidewalks and roadway enhancements will be reviewed for potential future phases in effort to focus on ADA compliance at our existing public park. Please note, this location also hosts the Summer Recreation Program, which enrolled 276 Sturbridge children in 2023. 

Please contact Recreation Director, Annie Roscioli with any additional questions: recreation@sturbridge.gov