WEST FALMOUTH PLAYGROUND REDUX PROJECT

Jake Barry, a Falmouth High School sophomore, invited his track teammates to a game of frisbee at West Falmouth Playground and returned amazed that the slide he enjoyed when he was young was gone and that all that is left are some rusty swings. Right then, he got the idea to begin fundraising for a more updated, fun and useable playground for grade school age kids.

The concept, similar to that used for the Mullen Hall School, was to enlist the West Falmouth community in helping, hands-on. Jake earned the support of the Falmouth Selectmen, Recreation Committee, and the West Falmouth Village Association.

Playground Updates:

Autumn 2015

Tennis Courts at Swift Playground
Photos show current progress (2015) of reconstruction of the Town
Tennis Courts at Swift Playground in West Falmouth. The Town of Falmouth is overseeing and funding the construction. Courts will be ready for play in Spring 2016.

Summer 2014

The newly renovated Swift Playground on Blacksmith Shop Road in West Falmouth is open and ready for summer. The renovation, which was the dream of West Falmouth teenager Jake Barry, was recently commemorated with a stone engraving to recognize the efforts of those involved. Pictured here, Kathleen Jespersen, president of Falmouth Together We Can (wearing black), Sandra Cuny of the Falmouth Recreation Committee (short brown hair), Susan Moran, president of the West Falmouth Village Association (wearing striped shirt), and 18-year-old Jake Barry of West Falmouth.

Fall 2013
The Swift Playground Project has been completed!

May 2013 - Letter from Jake Barry to WFVA Members:
"Congratulations! As a member of the West Falmouth Village Association, so far, you have helped raise $18,860.04 to rebuild West Falmouth Swift Playground. Swings, slide, and a picnic table have been installed leaving approximately $5000. This total includes funds donated by the West Falmouth Methodist Church for a bench to be installed with the next playground piece. I have also applied for a grant from Woods Hole Foundation. Fundraising for the approximately $20,000 needed to complete the final phase begins now for two play pieces: an omni spinner (merry-go-round) and playhouse. ." > Read more

On Monday, August 27, 2012 the Board of Selectmen unanimously supported moving forward with Phase I of the West Falmouth Playground project through Together We Can. Phase II will come before the Recreation Committee for support, and then to the Board of Selectmen for approval.

What is going on with the Playground?
Jake Barry, a Falmouth High School sophomore, invited his track teammates to play Frisbee at West Falmouth (Swift) Playground and returned amazed that the slide he enjoyed when he was young was gone and that all that was left were some rusty swings. Right then, he got the idea to begin fundraising for a more updated, fun and useable playground for grade school age kids. Jake earned the support of the Falmouth Selectmen, Recreation Committee, and the West Falmouth Village Association (WFVA). Along with a committee of Elsa Partan, Tracy Hampton and Susan Moran, Jake raised the necessary funds through Together We Can, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Why is $50,000 the approximate estimated budget?
We have made many choices to keep the costs of replacing the playground to a minimum. By law, playgrounds require ecologically safe materials which are expensive. For comparison, check out these two articles regarding the two playgrounds in Falmouth which are undergoing fundraising efforts at the same time - West Falmouth Playground (trying to raise $50,000) and East Falmouth Elementary Playground (trying to raise $130,000 for a bigger area).

We have chosen O'Brien and Sons, the same playground company that supplied or built the Falmouth Recreation Center playground and is building the East Falmouth School Playground. By choosing an approved company, we save some of the costs associated with approvals. We are keeping the playground site in the same location to avoid additional time and costs such as civil engineering that would be required if the site were moved. O'Brien and Sons has also provided us with a design consultant and several conceptual architecturally designed posters for public display so that folks can comment on the concept. The Town will prepare the site which will save the project a great deal (estimated $10,000).

Fundraisers:

Livestock Lottery
Date: March 23, 2013
Place: West Falmouth Playground
Time: 10:00 am
The event raised $1200, and the total so far is a bit over $20,000 since we also got a grant for $500 from the Falmouth Commission on Disability. The next pieces will be a bench donated by the United Methodist Church in West Falmouth and, with a few more thousand bucks, the omni spinner! Our most recent fundraiser, "Livestock Lottery", was held at the Playground on Saturday, March 23rd at 10:00 am. We sold rights to 64 sections of the lawn. Delilah, a cow from Smithfield Farm, was let to roam free and the owner of the square in which Delilah…"deposited" first, won $100. We also sold refreshments donated for the benefit of the Playground. The event was end at the discretion of Delilah.
> Click to view the flyer

Click below to view the photos of Delilah.
Photos courtesy of Milt Williamson.

West Falmouth Day
Date: October 7, 2012 (rain date October 8)
Place: West Falmouth Village
Time: 9:30 am - 6:00 pm

Beginning with a family friendly 3-mile walk on the Shining Sea Bike Path at 9:30am which will both benefit and end at the Playground at 11:00 am. 

The formal opening for Phase I of the new Playground will be at 11:00 am followed by a barbeque with childrens’ games, face-painting, tennis lessons and a display of several classic cars as well as exhibitions at West Falmouth Library and West Falmouth Market. 

> View more details and the schedule for West Falmouth Day

West Falmouth Playground Benefit Run  

Date: August 4, 2012
Place: Falmouth High School
Time: 9:00 am
Distance: 1 mile

Three Divisions:
Family
Men's Open
Women's Open

Registration:
$15 per person
$25 per family

Spring Swing Dance (View Poster)
Where: Sea Crest Beach Hotel
When: Saturday, April 21, 2012 at sunset, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
Tickets: $45 in advance, $50 at the door
Cape Cod Formal or classic swing attire
Hors d'oeuvres included, cash bar

Read more about the Project:

Falmouth Patch Article November 23, 2011
"Post-Thanksgiving Fun Run to Benefit West Falmouth Playground" by Conor Powers-Smith


Sample idea of the Playground at the beginning of the project: