About the Project
In the fall of 1988, the Marlborough Junior Women's Club created a committee to begin the process of constructing a Playscape in Marlborough. Through the diligent research of the members of the Junior Women's Club, the firm of Leathers and Associates of Ithaca, New York, a leader in Playground development, was chosen. It quickly became apparent that this project would become too large for just the Marlborough Junior Women's Club to handle and the Playscape Committee was formed. This formation enabled all residents of the Marlborough community to become active. Under the direction of Leathers and Associates, the design and ultimate construction of your Playscape was accomplished. Through the efforts of the Core Committee and the Residents and Businesses of Marlborough, we raised over $50,000 which was used for the purchase of the wood. All other materials and labor were donated. Construction began on May 3, 1989 and was completed on May 7, 1989. That construction weekend brought hundreds of residents from Marlborough and surrounding communities together like no other project has before or since in our area.
Today, the Playscape is in need of a major renovation and maintenance program. The Marlborough Park & Recreation Commission has once again turned to Leathers and Associates for guidance and expertise to assist us in this major renovation project. The first phase of this renovation was to assess the existing structure for areas not in compliance with today's Codes & Standards. An assessment of the existing Playscape was conducted in November 2006 and many areas were identified as needing attention. However, the structure was determined to be in very good condition, which was great news to the Town of Marlborough. The Leathers Group evaluated the data collected and has given us a renovation plan that will enable us to save our existing structure, bring it up to current State Building Codes, and replace some of the areas that have been deemed as no longer safe. The horizontal boards will be covered with a composite material, similar to Trex, and will require neither demolition nor additional framing. Any remaining vertical boards will be sanded and sealed with a clear plastic polymer coating. This will minimize splintering and will prevent any migration of the CCA chemical treatment on the existing pressure-treated wood.
This project is a major undertaking and will require the support of the community once again. We must raise approximately $50,000 for the purchase of materials alone and we must provide the labor as we did back in 1989. The Blish Park Playscape Renovation Committee is being formed to oversee the project. Many fundraising projects will be conducted and the community must come together once again to help "Save the Playscape." In the coming months, we will look again to the community for their support as we did in 1988 and 1989. We will be seeking volunteers for the "build weekend" of April 30 to May 4, 2008, as well as volunteers for all the committees that are needed to put into place the many facets of this project to ensure its success. Additionally, we will need the monetary support of the Residents and Businesses. It is time that we come together as a community and save one of the major focal points of our Town and Park. Please support the "Blish Park Renovation Project" by volunteering to help with this project and by supporting the fundraising efforts that will be necessary to complete the project.