By Thane Grauel

WESTPORT — Some upgrades to playgrounds at Coleytown Elementary recently received approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The Board of Education submitted the 8-24 request, for improvement of a municipal property, for 65 Easton Road.

An additional play area is to be added on the south side of the school with a Kompani carousel, according to the architectural firm. A play area on the western side, the rear of the school, will have a Kompani swing.

Kompani might not be a name known to the average person or parent, but appears well-regarded by the officials involved.

The areas would have pervious surfaces, a wood manufactured product, and would not count as additional coverage on the 27.3-acre site, materials state.

A staff report prepared by Planning and Zoning Director Mary Young said the commission would acting in its planning capacity.

She listed possible reasons to issue a positive 8-24 recommendation as:

• The proposed new playground equipment will help meet students’ needs by promoting student movement thereby creating a more “School Sensory Lifestyle,” and help mitigate lingering impacts resulting from COVID-19.
• The expanded play areas and play structures will be paid for by ARPA [American Rescue Plan Act] funds.
• The 2017 Plan of Conservation and Development recognizes schools as the number one facility that enhance the quality of life.

Commission members had a few questions Monday, but it seemed no serious concerns.

“This looks good,” member Neil Cohn said. “That playgrounds needs more of an uplift.”

He said the basketball hoops at the playground “could use some love.”

“The basketball hoops on the 3-5 playground were actually updated two years ago, so we do have two brand-new hoops there, and we are getting lines put in,” Coleytown Principal Janna Sirowich replied. “The K-2 playground still has the younger hoops, but they’re working right now for the little ones.

P&Z Chairman Paul Lebowitz asked how long the equipment might last.

Sirowich said she didn’t know the warranty period, “but I do know we’ve used this playground company before and our playground has lasted. I think the pieces are of very good quality.”

Representative Town Meeting member Wendy Batteau, District 8, asked for assurance there would no harmful rubber used or materials containing PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as “forever chemicals”).

Philip H. Cerrone, the architect, told her it was a wood chip surface.

The request received a unanimous recommendation from the P&Z.

Thane Grauel grew up in Westport and has been a journalist in Fairfield County and beyond for 36 years. Reach him at editor@westportjournal.com. Learn more about us here.