Milbank Park Opens New 'Tot Lot'

Bloomfield's smallest park has undergone some big upgrades.

Nestled on N. 17th Street, the newly improved Milbank Park features a "tot lot," with a swing set, climbing playground and slide, as well as nine new benches, six trash receptacles, fencing and two bag dispensers for dog waste.

Wood chips in the play area have been replaced with more aesthetically pleasing and longer lasting rubber tiles, though the two materials are the same in safety rating, said Mike Sceurman, director of the Bloomfield Recreation Department. The half-acre park is also now monitored by security cameras.

The nearly $80,000 in improvements were paid for by a federal community development block grant, said Sceurman.

Bloomfield Recreation Department and other town officials held a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday at the park.

In the spring, grass and flowers will be planted along the playground just in time for warm-weather activities.

"It needed to be upgraded," said Wanda Gonzalez, who's lived across the street for 21 years. Rodriguez said her two young daughters play soccer at the park, which is heavily used in the summer. "Seeing all the changes, the kids are very happy. It's a big change for us."