Lowe’s Takes on Renovation of Painter Park Wooden Playground

WEST HAVEN, CT — Four Lowe’s stores — Derby, Milford, New Haven and Orange — recently agreed to take on the restoration of the Painter Park wooden playground for their annual community service project, donating about $10,000 worth of materials and dozens of volunteers.

City officials said the Kelsey Avenue playground had fallen into disrepair and was closed in April due to safety concerns.

The Department of Parks and Recreation in June received an estimate of $150,000 to $180,000 to refurbish the popular playground, which was erected in 1994 by a group of volunteers with a shared vision for building for West Haven’s future.

Mayor Edward M. O’Brien said the city is grateful for the stores’ commitment to the children of West Haven.

Lowe’s of Derby store manager Pete Ouellette said the work, done at no cost to city taxpayers, should take about four weeks to complete and includes replacing all swing set equipment and hardware, beams and boards and benches. It also includes re-stabilizing the wooden retaining wall, adding picnic tables and fresh mulch and re-staining the playground.

The West Haven Fire Department is giving back by power-washing the playground before it is stained. Lowe’s, headquartered in Mooresville, N.C., has been “improving home improvement” for more than 60 years.

Pictured (from left, front to back): Lowe’s of Derby store manager Pete Ouellette, Lowe’s of Milford employee Kathy Kavanagh, Lowe’s of Derby employees Kirstin Black and Dan Scinto, city Recreation Program Coordinator Tom Conroy, West Haven Beautification Committee Chairwoman Marilyn Wilkes and Mayor Edward M. O’Brien kick off the renovation of the Painter Park wooden playground Aug. 26. (City Photo/Michael P. Walsh)

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