Recreation Department Playground Program

Kids everywhere look forward to summer vacation. With long, sunny days and warm temps, they can enjoy a break from their school routine and spend extra time with family and friends.

For the past 40 years, The Wilmington Recreation Department Playground Program has helped local kids make the most of their summer vacation. 

Having evolved from a drop in program at The Boutwell School field when it began 40 years ago, the program has gone through a lot of changes over the years but the basic goal has remained the same.

The playground program offers kids a chance to have fun in a safe, supervised environment and gives parents an affordable option complete with peace of mind.

For the past 12 years, Wilmington resident Bernie McNally has acted as the program’s director. 

Anyone who knows Bernie is well aware that he looks forward to the six week summer program equally as much as the kids attending. 

“First day of Playground Program and I get to see my summer kids who I have missed all year,” said Bernie, “I look forward to welcoming new play grounders and my awesome staff and Counselors in Training (C.I.T’s).”

The Playground Program is available to children who are entering second to eighth grade and many who attend go on to become Counselors in Training. Some even earn a position as counselor as they get older. 

As McNally said, “It is amazing for me to look back and know that I have watched so many of these kids grow up into incredible young adults.” 

McNally (along with this Patch writer) was one of the kids playing on the Boutwell Field when the program first began in the early 1970’s.

Over the years the program has moved around town and been located at various places including the Boutwell and Glen Road before finding its longtime home at The Shawsheen School. 

This year, renovations at Shawsheen have moved the program to the Woburn Street School for the season, but the change certainly hasn’t put a lid on the good times.  

Age appropriate field trips are planned each week and the daily calendar is filled with activities ranging from arts and crafts to board games and sports competitions to the annual talent show.

The kids attending are no longer allowed to walk to the local store but, over the years, McNally has added a slush stand, pizza day, a weekly visit from the ice cream truck and even a healthy snack bar to keep the kids happy and safe all at the same time.

“The program is continuously improving,” mentioned McNally, “every year we add things and make changes to accommodate everyone’s needs.”

One thing, however, remains very much the same.  Playground program is 100% self sufficient and the operating costs are completely covered by the $150 fee. 

“I give our Town manager Michael Caira all the credit for that,” said McNally. “He knows that this is not the time to increase the costs to our families and, as long as the kids’ needs are being met, he doesn’t want any type of increase.”

Field trips are an additional charge but they are not required and careful work goes into planning them to be as economical as possible. 

“Karen Campbell at The Recreation Department does all of our finances,” McNally said. “She works so hard to make everything cost effective.”

Teamwork is, without a doubt, a key to the program's success. This year McNally has hired two assistant directors, Katie Duncan and Jackie Mullens and in conjunction with Counselors and C.I.T’s they all put their best into making the program special for the kids attending.

“It’s a huge team effort,” Mcnally said. “I couldn’t do it without the support from the Recreation Department and Playground program staff.” 

For more information about The Playground Program as well as any of the other programs for adults and children offered by The Recreation Department visit their website and sign up to receive their newsletter and other updates via email.