Horace Mann Playground at Hesseltine Park renovation kick off!

A new playground for the Horace Mann neighborhood is in the works!  If you've ever visited the The Horace Mann Playground at Hesseltine Park, you'll notice immediately that it is well used, well loved, and very well worn.  As the only playground in the area,  it serves as a central gathering spot for families and time has taken its toll on the equipment.

 The Melrose community has supported new playgrounds at the Roosevelt School and the Lincoln School in recent years, and now the Horace Man playground is in desperate need of repair/renewal. Under the leadership of Horace Mann Elementary School  parents and community members Liane Cassavoy and Sarah Orlandella, a Playground Committee was formed by neighborhood parents who are looking for ways to revitalize and renovate this playground. Already, they have received generous donations from both the City of Melrose and the Horace Mann PTO. While this is a great start, they will need to raise significantly more order to fully renovate the playground.  The estimated cost is $60,000 to $70,000 or more, but the committee is determined and has developed a plan to raise funds for a new playground ready for the Horace Mann neighborhood by next Fall. In the works are a community tag sale, Poker night, and a 5K.  Modest funds have already been raised through a trick-or-treating drive and a pie sale, with pies donated by Whole Foods, Coffee, Tea and Me, and more.

Events are a fun way to raise money for the playground, but not major money-makers. The Committee recognizes that the majority of support will need to come from individual or corporate donations.  Several opportunities for donations are available, including engraved bricks in several sizes ($150 or $300) that will be a permanent part of the new HM playground and opportunities for permanent signage in the park in recognition of larger donations ($500+).  The Playground Committee is hoping that community members, both individual and corporate, will believe, as they do, in the value of exercise, play, and a safe gathering spot and offer financial support to make this new space happen.  

The Committee has organized brick and signage donations in time for the holidays, and these are perfect gifts to honor a loved one for years to come.  People interested in making a donation of any amount or purchasing a brick can visit the Playground Project website, www.hmschoolyard.com for more more information.