How One Shrewsbury Resident Helped Rebuild A Neighborhood Playground

SHREWSBURY, MA — When aging equipment began disappearing from the Arrowwood Park playground because of safety concerns, neighborhood resident Jenna McCann decided to pursue a replacement.

The result is a new playground at 16 Arrowwood Drive featuring slides, swings and sensory equipment for children of different ages and abilities. The Community Preservation Act-funded project is Shrewsbury’s first full playground replacement in 26 years.

McCann moved to Shrewsbury in 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic limited places families could gather. The playground, located near her new home, became an important neighborhood space for her family.

As equipment aged and pieces were removed, McCann began advocating for a safe, welcoming replacement where children could play and families could meet.

From Neighborhood Idea To Town Approval

She brought the idea to a Community Preservation Committee meeting at the library in 2023. Over the next two years, she worked with town employees Keith Baldinger, Kevin Esposito, and Rowen McAllister, as well as construction partner Robert DiVerdi Jr., to develop the proposal.

The process included meetings, applications, assessments, emails and phone calls before the project went to Town Meeting in 2025. Town Meeting approved a $600,000 Community Preservation Act appropriation to replace the equipment and install new safety surfacing, according to town project records.

McCann then worked with the project architect as the plans took shape, an experience she described as “truly amazing.”

The completed playground includes a multi-story play tower with a covered spiral slide and side-by-side racing slides. Its shaded swing area has two standard seats, a toddler seat and a high-back adaptive seat.

Other features include rainbow chimes, flower-shaped talk tubes, a playhouse and a miniature roadway track built into the soft safety surface. The town celebrated the opening with a ribbon-cutting Tuesday.

McCann credited her husband, Harrison McCann, along with Patricia Doyle, Kathy Belanger, Diann Dibenedetto, Jayne Senecal, the Falandys family and the DiVerdi family for supporting the project.

“Anyone can do it,” McCann said. “Be consistent, be patient, and be willing to put in the time and effort. Keep asking questions, keep showing up, and always ask, ‘What can I do to help make this happen?’”

Residents interested in proposing projects can find applications and information here.

See Also:

• Shrewsbury Opens First Fully Replaced Playground In 26 Years
• New South Asian Supermarket Eyes Opening In Shrewsbury