Residents Will Vote on $138K Playscape Tonight

Residents will be asked tonight whether they want to spend $138,000 to build a new playscape for children in the community.

Oxford will hold a town meeting to vote on the funding at 7 tonight at Town Hall. The question that will be asked is:

Shall the town of Oxford approve $138,000. to be taken from the funds received from the Quaker Farms School oil remediation settlement for the proposed playscape as approved by the Board ofFinance on May 28, 2013, and the Board of Selectmen on June 5, 2013.

The idea for a playscape was brought forth by First Selectman George Temple, who says this one will be much more elaborate than the playscapes already in the community. Plus, he says, some of those are rundown and in need of significant repairs. The playscape would be built on Great Oak Road near the middle school and Quaker Farms Elementary.

The town has $40,000 in donations for the project. That, plus the money being requested, would totally offset the cost.

When he proposed the idea last year, Temple said: “The goal is to make something for the younger children in town, those ages two to 10, in the same manner as Castles in the Park in Seymour." 

The Democratic Town Committee is against the project, according to a letter submitted by the DTC chairwoman.