It takes a community: Holy Family opens new playground
Frank Speziale
NORWICH – After two years of planning and with the community rallying in support of the project, Holy Family School (HFS) unveiled its new state-of-the-art playground on Monday to the public.
"The generosity of this community, the R.C. Smith Foundation in particular, was heartwarming," said HFS Principal Lee Brenner, adding that hundreds of families, individuals, and businesses donated funds to make the playground – which is now open to anyone – a reality.
Brenner, along with HFS advisory board member Bob Collins, co-chaired the project and came up with the plans with Parkitects, Inc. – a company that designs park and playground environments – for a safe, exciting playground that could be enjoyed by all the children in the greater Norwich community.
Construction for the playground officially began on Friday as Matt Burrell and employees of Burrell's Excavating provided the manpower to remove the old wooden playground and all the stone, which, according to a Syracuse Diocese Risk Management Report in November 2017, could have "present[ed] a safety hazard." Also pitching-in was Jeff Parker and employees of Parker Homes, Brenner said.
"[Matt Burrell and Jeff Parker] said to me, 'Whatever you need, Lee, you got it.' And they meant it," said Brenner.
After the old playground was removed, GE Aviation sent 10 employees to join 70 community volunteers at HFS to assemble the new playground and bring it to life.
Forty-eight hours after the construction began, it was complete. According to HFS staff, a representative from Parkitects, Inc. said he had never seen a community work together to complete a build so quickly. Brenner said the school saved $36,000 by building it themselves.
The new playground is handicapped accessible and includes sensory playground equipment for children on the autism spectrum. It also includes a roller slide, a zip-line, a buddy slide, a basketball hoop, and more.
Brenner said she was thrilled with Parkitects, Inc., Burrell's Excavating, Parker Homes, GE Aviation, and all the volunteers and donors who made the project possible. "It really does take a community," she said.
Brenner offered her thanks to The R.C. Smith Foundation, The Patricia M. and H. William Smith, Jr. Foundation, The Flanagan Charitable Trust, The Follett Foundation, W&F Conroy Family Trust, The Elizabeth & George Mead Foundation, GE Aviation, Golub Corporation, Natoli & Natoli, LLP, R.J. Fahy Funeral Home, Rider Hook & Ladder Company, Chenango Union Printing, Alvogen/Norwich Pharma, Wachovia Corporation, Norwich Implement, Inc., Roger's Auto Body, Catholic Charities of Chenango County, Kerry Bio-Science, Norwich Price Chopper, Golub Corporation, Norwich Lowe's, Norwich WalMart, New York Pizzeria, and all the Holy Family families who supported the project.
Pictured: HFS board member Linda Callea, Nancy Ritzel and Mary Davis with the R.C. Smith Foundation, HFS Principal and project co-chair Lee Brenner, Fr. Ralph Bove, HFS board member and project co-chair Bob Collins, Lori Tripoli and Dan Ketchum of GE Aviation, and volunteer John Provo. In back, HFS board members Paula Trevisani, Stephanie Boland, Matt Boland, and Joe Skundrich. (Frank Speziale photo)
NORWICH – After two years of planning and with the community rallying in support of the project, Holy Family School (HFS) unveiled its new state-of-the-art playground on Monday to the public.
"The generosity of this community, the R.C. Smith Foundation in particular, was heartwarming," said HFS Principal Lee Brenner, adding that hundreds of families, individuals, and businesses donated funds to make the playground – which is now open to anyone – a reality.
Brenner, along with HFS advisory board member Bob Collins, co-chaired the project and came up with the plans with Parkitects, Inc. – a company that designs park and playground environments – for a safe, exciting playground that could be enjoyed by all the children in the greater Norwich community.
Construction for the playground officially began on Friday as Matt Burrell and employees of Burrell's Excavating provided the manpower to remove the old wooden playground and all the stone, which, according to a Syracuse Diocese Risk Management Report in November 2017, could have "present[ed] a safety hazard." Also pitching-in was Jeff Parker and employees of Parker Homes, Brenner said.
"[Matt Burrell and Jeff Parker] said to me, 'Whatever you need, Lee, you got it.' And they meant it," said Brenner.
After the old playground was removed, GE Aviation sent 10 employees to join 70 community volunteers at HFS to assemble the new playground and bring it to life.
Forty-eight hours after the construction began, it was complete. According to HFS staff, a representative from Parkitects, Inc. said he had never seen a community work together to complete a build so quickly. Brenner said the school saved $36,000 by building it themselves.
The new playground is handicapped accessible and includes sensory playground equipment for children on the autism spectrum. It also includes a roller slide, a zip-line, a buddy slide, a basketball hoop, and more.
Brenner said she was thrilled with Parkitects, Inc., Burrell's Excavating, Parker Homes, GE Aviation, and all the volunteers and donors who made the project possible. "It really does take a community," she said.
Brenner offered her thanks to The R.C. Smith Foundation, The Patricia M. and H. William Smith, Jr. Foundation, The Flanagan Charitable Trust, The Follett Foundation, W&F Conroy Family Trust, The Elizabeth & George Mead Foundation, GE Aviation, Golub Corporation, Natoli & Natoli, LLP, R.J. Fahy Funeral Home, Rider Hook & Ladder Company, Chenango Union Printing, Alvogen/Norwich Pharma, Wachovia Corporation, Norwich Implement, Inc., Roger's Auto Body, Catholic Charities of Chenango County, Kerry Bio-Science, Norwich Price Chopper, Golub Corporation, Norwich Lowe's, Norwich WalMart, New York Pizzeria, and all the Holy Family families who supported the project.
Pictured: HFS board member Linda Callea, Nancy Ritzel and Mary Davis with the R.C. Smith Foundation, HFS Principal and project co-chair Lee Brenner, Fr. Ralph Bove, HFS board member and project co-chair Bob Collins, Lori Tripoli and Dan Ketchum of GE Aviation, and volunteer John Provo. In back, HFS board members Paula Trevisani, Stephanie Boland, Matt Boland, and Joe Skundrich. (Frank Speziale photo)
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