West Hartford Preschool Play Area Project OK'd By PZC

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The local zoning board this month has greenlighted a university's plan to expand the play area at its public preschool/daycare, which also serves as an educational tool for students.

The West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission voted 5-0 July 11 in support of a special use permit for the University of Saint Joseph to expand and improve the play area for its School for Young Children.

According to USJ, the school not only serves as a preschool for the West Hartford area, but it is a place where USJ education students often help out and gain valuable experience toward their career.

It is located on 5 acres of campus property at 238 Steele Road, West Hartford, and outdoor education, according to USJ, is seen as a critical component to the preschool.

"Currently there are three spaces on the property that are used each day. When social distancing was a critical element in maintaining a healthy environment, classes spent additional time outside," wrote USJ in a project narrative to the PZC.

"During that time class sizes and time spent outdoors had to be limited due to limitations of the space available. The purpose of this permit it to create an additional space for children to use on the property."

As a result, the new play area would include various types of equipment to "develop balance and coordination."

USJ said the project is funded by the Connecticut Child Care Program Stabilization Funding, "which identifies the improvement of outdoor learning spaces/playgrounds as one of its goals."

For more information on USJ's School for Young Children, click on this link.

For the minutes of the July 11 West Hartford Plan & Zoning Commission meeting, click on this link.