Our Supporters
My Gym Children's Fitness Center is happy to be a corporate sponsor of this important project. This play area will get kids moving and having fun as they explore and challenge themselves on the new equipment!
Dave Ames
Owner & Director at My Gym Children's Fitness Center of Norwell, MA
Dave Ames
Owner & Director at My Gym Children's Fitness Center of Norwell, MA
We are writing in support of the proposed Hingham Centre play area. From the plans it appears as though the new equipment will be unobtrusive in color, type, and location and will provide a compliant and safe place for neighborhood children to play. We love seeing kids riding and walking up and down the sidewalks, playing pickup games of ball on the ball field, and taking advantage of the friendly and safe area in which we live. Replacing unsafe playground equipment with compliant equipment will serve to enhance the neighborhood not only for those families with younger children, but also for neighbors with older children and grandchildren. Any place that promotes fun, healthy outdoor activity for children, also promotes healthy neighborhood relationships.
We want to thank all of you who have volunteered your time for this project. Like neighborhood playgrounds, volunteering on a town committee also promotes healthy neighborhood relationships, from which we all benefit.
Jennifer Davis and Michael Pollard
49 School Street
We want to thank all of you who have volunteered your time for this project. Like neighborhood playgrounds, volunteering on a town committee also promotes healthy neighborhood relationships, from which we all benefit.
Jennifer Davis and Michael Pollard
49 School Street
We are writing in support of the Hingham Centre play area. Since moving here nearly five years ago, the swings, see saw, and climbing structure have been a fixture in our three kids lives and we always assumed it would remain that way.
It has served as a neighborhood meeting place, bringing together families and kids from Riverview and Studley Road, School Street and Middle Street. It is a constant after dinner walk destination for before bed fun. And its size and proximity have allowed us to give our 10-year old James the freedom to venture up there alone with friends, knowing neighbors could easily keep an eye on them.
From our perspective it is hard to see the downside in giving neighborhood children their own spot — we love seeing middle schoolers hanging at the swings likely sharing stories as much as we love seeing our kids there. They are close to home and safe.
We also support inclusion and believe equal rights for all children and adults. That is why we accept that playground zoning requirements have evolved and that wood chips or another base will be required. Just as we allow historic homes to have asphalt driveways today and not ephemeral dirt paths, which were most common before 1850, we have to evolve. We ask that our neighbors understand the importance of having a neighborhood meeting spot for children and families — it builds community, encourages outside play and provides a backdrop for years of memories.
Finally, we thank the Hingham Centre Playground Committee for all their hard work and dedication to this project. They are working to appease both sides, while ensuring that a few loud voices do not overpower what is right for our kids and the future of our neighborhood.
Mary Beth and Jason Hamilton
5 Riverview Road
It has served as a neighborhood meeting place, bringing together families and kids from Riverview and Studley Road, School Street and Middle Street. It is a constant after dinner walk destination for before bed fun. And its size and proximity have allowed us to give our 10-year old James the freedom to venture up there alone with friends, knowing neighbors could easily keep an eye on them.
From our perspective it is hard to see the downside in giving neighborhood children their own spot — we love seeing middle schoolers hanging at the swings likely sharing stories as much as we love seeing our kids there. They are close to home and safe.
We also support inclusion and believe equal rights for all children and adults. That is why we accept that playground zoning requirements have evolved and that wood chips or another base will be required. Just as we allow historic homes to have asphalt driveways today and not ephemeral dirt paths, which were most common before 1850, we have to evolve. We ask that our neighbors understand the importance of having a neighborhood meeting spot for children and families — it builds community, encourages outside play and provides a backdrop for years of memories.
Finally, we thank the Hingham Centre Playground Committee for all their hard work and dedication to this project. They are working to appease both sides, while ensuring that a few loud voices do not overpower what is right for our kids and the future of our neighborhood.
Mary Beth and Jason Hamilton
5 Riverview Road
I am writing in support of the efforts the Hingham Centre Playground Committee are making to build a new and safe playground for young kids in the Hingham Centre neighborhood.
Although we recently moved from Middle Street, we lived there for 26 years, and raised four children in this awesome neighborhood. We felt so lucky to live in this location... so close to the library, the softball field (where we held many of my sons’ birthday parties), the graveyard where the kids learned to ride their bikes, and the cute little playground where they could get their energy out. I know it is a rare opportunity to have neighborhood facilities now, as we are such a car-centric society. However, I will never forget watching my son and his best friend Jeff (who lived in your house), pack up their little red wagon with baseball bats, balls and mitts, and head around the corner to spend hours engaged in baseball practice, playing on the swings, and climbing on the monkey bars. It was something that was reminiscent of the 1950s, and gave the kids such a sense of independence, yet in a location just a few steps from home.
However, I will say that our relationship with the playground was not 100% positive. When the boys were quite young, we had some run-ins with the playground equipment where the boys came out on the losing end. When Alastair was 4, he was see-sawing with his brother, got scared and jumped off before I could stop him. The metal see saw slammed up into his mouth and he lost a tooth. My third son, Pierson, at a similar age, was climbing on the monkey bars with me standing right there to spot for him. With a quick slip of the foot, and again before I could intervene, his mouth hit the metal bar and he chipped a tooth. So, Playground - 2, Butlers - 0.
Because we loved the playground, but realized it was outdated from a safety perspective, I was delighted to hear that the community was raising money for an upgrade to modern equipment, with the safer set-ups we’ve all come to expect. However, I was also surprised (and a bit shocked) to learn that there were some objections to these upgrades. How could this be anything but a much-needed improvement and a wonderful resource for the Hingham Centre community.
I want to commend you and the committee for all your hard work on this project. I hope that it will be fruitful so that many more generations of kids will have the wonderful opportunity to have a neighborhood playground just down the street or around the corner, with all the benefits that that brings to families with young kids.
Rachel Butler
148 Downer Ave
Although we recently moved from Middle Street, we lived there for 26 years, and raised four children in this awesome neighborhood. We felt so lucky to live in this location... so close to the library, the softball field (where we held many of my sons’ birthday parties), the graveyard where the kids learned to ride their bikes, and the cute little playground where they could get their energy out. I know it is a rare opportunity to have neighborhood facilities now, as we are such a car-centric society. However, I will never forget watching my son and his best friend Jeff (who lived in your house), pack up their little red wagon with baseball bats, balls and mitts, and head around the corner to spend hours engaged in baseball practice, playing on the swings, and climbing on the monkey bars. It was something that was reminiscent of the 1950s, and gave the kids such a sense of independence, yet in a location just a few steps from home.
However, I will say that our relationship with the playground was not 100% positive. When the boys were quite young, we had some run-ins with the playground equipment where the boys came out on the losing end. When Alastair was 4, he was see-sawing with his brother, got scared and jumped off before I could stop him. The metal see saw slammed up into his mouth and he lost a tooth. My third son, Pierson, at a similar age, was climbing on the monkey bars with me standing right there to spot for him. With a quick slip of the foot, and again before I could intervene, his mouth hit the metal bar and he chipped a tooth. So, Playground - 2, Butlers - 0.
Because we loved the playground, but realized it was outdated from a safety perspective, I was delighted to hear that the community was raising money for an upgrade to modern equipment, with the safer set-ups we’ve all come to expect. However, I was also surprised (and a bit shocked) to learn that there were some objections to these upgrades. How could this be anything but a much-needed improvement and a wonderful resource for the Hingham Centre community.
I want to commend you and the committee for all your hard work on this project. I hope that it will be fruitful so that many more generations of kids will have the wonderful opportunity to have a neighborhood playground just down the street or around the corner, with all the benefits that that brings to families with young kids.
Rachel Butler
148 Downer Ave
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The Hingham Centre Play Area has been a well-loved gathering spot for families and children for several decades. It’s an important asset to the community that provides a safe, neighborhood space for kids to play. We support preserving and updating this neighborhood treasure for future generations of kids and families to enjoy.
Amy Moore
9 Riverview Road
Amy Moore
9 Riverview Road
We recently attended an “update meeting” on the proposed Hingham Center Playground. After listening to the update and current plans by the committee, the current process, and the possible options, we strongly support the proposed project as outlined at the neighborhood meeting.
With respect to the current play area, the environment is not safe. One example, the current swings has bolts sticking out of the bar with the swings. This is very dangerous. They don’t even have any “bolt caps” to protect the kids from tearing into their hands. The rust and current condition of the 3 items seem to be beyond repair, thus new playground swings etc. would be safer for the kids. It would also be nice to place the new playground away from the spikes sticking out of the new black wrought iron fence surrounding the cemetery.
Also, it is important to make the environment ADA compliant with a 2019 option that makes sense for the neighborhood. This was also discussed and made perfect sense from the committee presentation on the need to be ADA compliant. We concur.
As residents of Middle Street, our children have enjoyed the swings and playground with the neighborhood kids. In many instances, our children would be babysitting some of the younger kids and would bring them to the Center Playground. A new playground would be a welcome improvement for the younger kids in the neighborhood.
From attending the meeting, it appears the project is well on its way to a positive solution. We commend the committee on their transparency on the project and we look forward to working with them on the new playground in 2019.
Tara and Tom Coveney
34 Middle Street
With respect to the current play area, the environment is not safe. One example, the current swings has bolts sticking out of the bar with the swings. This is very dangerous. They don’t even have any “bolt caps” to protect the kids from tearing into their hands. The rust and current condition of the 3 items seem to be beyond repair, thus new playground swings etc. would be safer for the kids. It would also be nice to place the new playground away from the spikes sticking out of the new black wrought iron fence surrounding the cemetery.
Also, it is important to make the environment ADA compliant with a 2019 option that makes sense for the neighborhood. This was also discussed and made perfect sense from the committee presentation on the need to be ADA compliant. We concur.
As residents of Middle Street, our children have enjoyed the swings and playground with the neighborhood kids. In many instances, our children would be babysitting some of the younger kids and would bring them to the Center Playground. A new playground would be a welcome improvement for the younger kids in the neighborhood.
From attending the meeting, it appears the project is well on its way to a positive solution. We commend the committee on their transparency on the project and we look forward to working with them on the new playground in 2019.
Tara and Tom Coveney
34 Middle Street
We support the new Hingham Centre play area and would love to see it built!
Angela and Charlie Barnard
30 Downing Street
Angela and Charlie Barnard
30 Downing Street
I wanted to send a note expressing our support for the Hingham Centre play area project. We would love to see it come to life.
Ana VonIderstein
21 Downing Street
Ana VonIderstein
21 Downing Street
I love the Hingham Centre play area proposal and would love to see it built.
Sarah Kuzniar
23 Downing Street
Sarah Kuzniar
23 Downing Street
I’m a resident of Downing Street and would LOVE to see the proposed playground project come to fruition! Full support here — it’s a wonderful space for children! We spent lots of time there (the see-saw!) when my kiddos were small.
Katie O'Brien
44 Downing Street
Katie O'Brien
44 Downing Street
I very much support the building of the playground. My children have loved using the older equipment in the past, but would very much appreciate newer equipment! Thank you so much,
Jody Degreve
15 Downing Street
Jody Degreve
15 Downing Street
Thank you so much for all you are doing for the playground! The proposed plan looks wonderful and my children would love it!! Thank you!
Kim and Charles Haley
10 Downing Street
Kim and Charles Haley
10 Downing Street
Hi! Just wanted to send our support for the updates needed to the Hingham Centre Playground. Both my girls played at the old playground and it’s such a special place and location for a small playground.
Kate and Sean Newth
18 Downing Street
Kate and Sean Newth
18 Downing Street
We are in favor of the new playground.
Melinda Reuter
26 Spring Street
Melinda Reuter
26 Spring Street
We support this project to restore the Hingham Centre play area, and will help in any way that we can.
Bonnie and Fred Delay
27 Downing Street
Bonnie and Fred Delay
27 Downing Street
I love Hingham Centre (especially as it pertains to the eating of bagels and cupcakes), and I am particularly impressed by the plan for increased accessibility.
Mike Lambert
5 Bradley Park Drive
Mike Lambert
5 Bradley Park Drive