Darien RTM To Consider Donation For Playground Replacement At McGuane Field

DARIEN, CT — The Darien Representative Town Meeting will consider accepting a $22,000 gift and appropriation to assist with the replacement of the playground at McGuane Field, which is just off Noroton Avenue near the Noroton-Heights Firehouse.

The money was donated by Federal Realty. The Board of Selectmen approved the gift at its Nov. 7 meeting, and the Board of Finance followed suit on Nov. 15.

According to a summary of the project from Parks & Recreation Director Pamela Gery, the playground is scheduled to be replaced in June 2023.

The town wants to leave the existing playground in place until a new one is ready for installation, since it's one of the few accessible playgrounds.

Gery said the town's park crew planned to remove the current playground equipment at no cost last month, but that would have left the park with no play equipment for half a year.

In order to keep the playground open, Creative Recreation, the playground vendor, can remove the equipment as part of the project next year.

Gery said this would result in additional costs. As a result, Federal Realty stepped up to donate $22,000 to assist with the costs.

The RTM meeting is scheduled for Dec. 12 at 8 p.m., in the Darien Town Hall auditorium.