Superintendent: New Butler Playground 'Fully Funded'

After spending 10 minutes reviewing the fundraising efforts to restore a playground where seven months previous the Waverley neighborhood lost one of its few play spaces, Belmont School Superintendent Dr. Thomas Kingston made an announcement that everyone was waiting to hear.

"The new Butler School Playground is now fully funded," said Kingston.

But for a few seconds, the committee member and those in attendance didn't know how to react. Then came the anticipated round of cheers.

"I was waiting for that applause," said Kingston.

In fact, in less than a year, the effort to construct a new playground on the site condemned for safety concerns by the school department in November is now running a surplus of more than $14,000 over the anticipated costs.

Kingston's proclamation apparently ends for now questions on and the to raise the funds to restore a public amenity.

But while the announcement was made last night, Tuesday, May 22, the final piece in the financial jigsaw was laid on Monday night when a Selectman committed his resources to the effort.

The week previous, after on the third night of Town Meeting, the selectmen said they would take the lead on the measure.

At their Monday meeting, School Committee Chairwoman Laurie Graham told the board that while funds had been raised to complete the first phase of construction – just under $125,000 to prepare the site, purchasing the play structure and lay a rubber safety surface – the account was $38,000 short to compete the project's second phase, which includes fencing, landscaping and amenities,

Lead by Jones, the board sought to move an additional $50,000 on the last day of the annual Town Meeting on May 29 to ensure completion of final phase. But there were no appropriation articles left in the final half-dozen waiting to be debated in which the board could amend.

Saying "the Butler School community deserved to know, with certainty, that the Playground would be completed,” Jones pledged to contribute the additional funds for phase two.

The board also committed to following up in the fall at the annual Special Town Meeting to ensure that the Butler playground had the funds to be completed.

Town Meeting Transfer

from Capital Budget

School Department

Operating Expenditures (FY 12) 

Estimated full project cost

(including Phase I and II)

Surplus/Loss (surplus to be used as a contingency)

Jones' contribution was nearly matched by two donations from Graham Allison and his wife, Elizabeth, which combined makes up more than 40 percent of the projects $168,000 cost.

The successful private/public partnership at the Butler Playground could be used as a model in future efforts by the town to secure the revenue for projects with great appeal.

But for now, the new playground is an example of what a committed group of people can do when faced with a challenge, said Kevin Cunningham of the School Committee.

Donors contributing and pledging $1,000 or more: