Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Town close the Hingham Centre play area?
The Town of Hingham closed the Hingham Centre play area in the spring of 2017 (and more recently removed the dilapidated play equipment) due to safety and accessibility concerns.
What are the goals of the project to restore the play area?
The main goal of this project is to reopen the Hingham Centre play area so that current and future generations can once again enjoy this special pocket play area for years to come. More specifically, the goals are as follows:
How did you come up with the new design?
We came up with the new design by gathering input from the community, and by working closely with Town of Hingham officials, playground equipment manufacturers, local installers, and local landscape architect Sean Papich.
Why did the design change after the Town approved it?
The original design was unopposed and unanimously approved during a public Board of Selectmen meeting on June 5, 2018. However, we revised the design by replacing the approved climber with a see-saw to address aesthetic concerns raised by some members of the community.
Has the Town approved the proposed changes to the design?
Yes. The Town issued a written letter of affirmation on December 12, 2019 stating that the Selectmen are in support of the revised plan, and committed to building the new play area per the latest design in the spring of 2020.
How big is the proposed play area?
Per the site plan created by local landscape architect Sean Papich, the total area of the proposed plan is approximately 1,715 SF.
When will the Town break ground on the new play area?
That's a great question. At present, we are trying to get on the agenda of the next Board of Selectmen meeting. However, it has been difficult to get the Selectmen to make this project a priority (presumably due to competing priorities). Once the Town approves the proposed changes, we can turn our attention back toward raising the remaining money we need to fund the project.
Why is the new play area being privately funded?
Unlike other playgrounds maintained by either the Hingham Recreation Department, or the Hingham Public School Administration, the Hingham Centre play area is maintained by the Hingham Board of Selectmen. Given the growing list of demands on the Town's resources, restoring the Hingham Centre play area is unfortunately and understandably not a priority. In short, if private citizens and businesses don't fund it, the Hingham Centre play area will eventually go away.
Why did you choose equipment from Dynamo Playgrounds?
We considered three playground equipment manufacturers: Dynamo Playgrounds, BCI Burke, and Landscape Structures. All three companies make commercial equipment, but we ultimately chose Dynamo based on the results of our online survey, their innovative designs, and their reputation for making high quality equipment. Although it was not the deciding factor, we were also happy to learn that Boston, Newton, Brookline, Lexington, Marblehead, and more than a dozen other Massachusetts communities have installed Dynamo equipment.
Will restoring the play area create parking issues?
The current play area attracts mostly pedestrian traffic today due to the fact that there is limited parking, and only three pieces of play equipment. That is why one of the project goals (and one of the Town’s mandates) is that we keep to three pieces of equipment that are a similar size and scale as the original. We are not increasing the capacity of the play area, so there is no reason to think that restoring it will create parking issues.
Can we just repaint the old playground equipment?
We know many people within the community have fond memories of their children growing up playing on the existing equipment. The old swing, see-saw, and jungle gym have served our community well for several decades, but the equipment does not meet today’s safety standards, and is dilapidated with metal protrusions, sharp edges, and failing paint that likely contains lead given its age. It is simply well beyond its useful life. Further, the play area is not accessible, and the equipment is dangerously close to the wrought iron fence surrounding the cemetery per current fall zone guidelines.
Will any trees be removed?
Though the wood chip play surface and accessible pathway will require some minor excavation, we do not expect it to adversely impact any of the adjacent trees. The Town could change its mind, but it is worth noting that when the Planning Department, and Selectmen both approved the original plan to restore the play area in June 2018, they did so with the condition that no trees would be removed.
Why do we need to install wood chips, and an accessible path?
We all love the look of grass, but it does not provide a “firm, stable, and slip resistant” surface per state and federal accessibility guidelines. That is why all new playgrounds in Hingham, like Kress Field and the new Hull Street playground, feature poured rubber play surfaces. However, unlike those larger playgrounds, ours features just three pieces of equipment. Therefore, most of the play surface will comprise wood chips with just enough rubber (in a neutral earth tone) to create a discrete pathway to the equipment so that children of all abilities may access it.
The Town of Hingham closed the Hingham Centre play area in the spring of 2017 (and more recently removed the dilapidated play equipment) due to safety and accessibility concerns.
What are the goals of the project to restore the play area?
The main goal of this project is to reopen the Hingham Centre play area so that current and future generations can once again enjoy this special pocket play area for years to come. More specifically, the goals are as follows:
- Meet modern safety standards
- Be accessible to children of all abilities
- Serve children ages 2-5, but be dynamic enough to be enjoyed by older children too
- Keep to three pieces of equipment
- Maintain a similar size and scale to the existing play area
- Use earth tones to blend with the adjacent cemetery and natural surroundings as much as possible
- Choose durable, high-quality equipment that will last a long time
How did you come up with the new design?
We came up with the new design by gathering input from the community, and by working closely with Town of Hingham officials, playground equipment manufacturers, local installers, and local landscape architect Sean Papich.
Why did the design change after the Town approved it?
The original design was unopposed and unanimously approved during a public Board of Selectmen meeting on June 5, 2018. However, we revised the design by replacing the approved climber with a see-saw to address aesthetic concerns raised by some members of the community.
Has the Town approved the proposed changes to the design?
Yes. The Town issued a written letter of affirmation on December 12, 2019 stating that the Selectmen are in support of the revised plan, and committed to building the new play area per the latest design in the spring of 2020.
How big is the proposed play area?
Per the site plan created by local landscape architect Sean Papich, the total area of the proposed plan is approximately 1,715 SF.
When will the Town break ground on the new play area?
That's a great question. At present, we are trying to get on the agenda of the next Board of Selectmen meeting. However, it has been difficult to get the Selectmen to make this project a priority (presumably due to competing priorities). Once the Town approves the proposed changes, we can turn our attention back toward raising the remaining money we need to fund the project.
Why is the new play area being privately funded?
Unlike other playgrounds maintained by either the Hingham Recreation Department, or the Hingham Public School Administration, the Hingham Centre play area is maintained by the Hingham Board of Selectmen. Given the growing list of demands on the Town's resources, restoring the Hingham Centre play area is unfortunately and understandably not a priority. In short, if private citizens and businesses don't fund it, the Hingham Centre play area will eventually go away.
Why did you choose equipment from Dynamo Playgrounds?
We considered three playground equipment manufacturers: Dynamo Playgrounds, BCI Burke, and Landscape Structures. All three companies make commercial equipment, but we ultimately chose Dynamo based on the results of our online survey, their innovative designs, and their reputation for making high quality equipment. Although it was not the deciding factor, we were also happy to learn that Boston, Newton, Brookline, Lexington, Marblehead, and more than a dozen other Massachusetts communities have installed Dynamo equipment.
Will restoring the play area create parking issues?
The current play area attracts mostly pedestrian traffic today due to the fact that there is limited parking, and only three pieces of play equipment. That is why one of the project goals (and one of the Town’s mandates) is that we keep to three pieces of equipment that are a similar size and scale as the original. We are not increasing the capacity of the play area, so there is no reason to think that restoring it will create parking issues.
Can we just repaint the old playground equipment?
We know many people within the community have fond memories of their children growing up playing on the existing equipment. The old swing, see-saw, and jungle gym have served our community well for several decades, but the equipment does not meet today’s safety standards, and is dilapidated with metal protrusions, sharp edges, and failing paint that likely contains lead given its age. It is simply well beyond its useful life. Further, the play area is not accessible, and the equipment is dangerously close to the wrought iron fence surrounding the cemetery per current fall zone guidelines.
Will any trees be removed?
Though the wood chip play surface and accessible pathway will require some minor excavation, we do not expect it to adversely impact any of the adjacent trees. The Town could change its mind, but it is worth noting that when the Planning Department, and Selectmen both approved the original plan to restore the play area in June 2018, they did so with the condition that no trees would be removed.
Why do we need to install wood chips, and an accessible path?
We all love the look of grass, but it does not provide a “firm, stable, and slip resistant” surface per state and federal accessibility guidelines. That is why all new playgrounds in Hingham, like Kress Field and the new Hull Street playground, feature poured rubber play surfaces. However, unlike those larger playgrounds, ours features just three pieces of equipment. Therefore, most of the play surface will comprise wood chips with just enough rubber (in a neutral earth tone) to create a discrete pathway to the equipment so that children of all abilities may access it.