Project Application
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION
PROJECT APPLICATION COVER SHEET
I: Project Information
Project Title:
Bridge Street School Playground
Project Summary:
Funding is requested for design and construction costs to rehabilitate the school playground.
The Bridge Street School playground is presently a small, hard-packed area of mostly barren
dirt which becomes dusty on windy days, muddy with rain, and slick on icy days. The CPA
grant would be used primarily to install new playground surfaces and minimal additional de-
sign and play elements so that the school, its neighbors and all city visitors can once again
have a healthy, sustainable playground by the start of school in September 2014.
This is Bridge Street School’s first application for CPA funding.
Estimated start date: _07/01/2014____ Estimated completion date: _08/30/2014__
CPA Program Area (check all that apply):
Open Space Historic Preservation
Community Housing Recreation
II: Applicant/Developer Information
Contact Person and or/primary applicant: Beth Choquette
Property Owner (if applicable): City of Northampton
Organization (if applicable): Bridge Street School
Mailing Address: 2 Parsons Street, Northampton, MA 01060
Daytime phone #: (413) 587-1460 Fax #: (413) 587-1474
E-mail address & Website: bchoquette@northampton-k12.us
III: Budget Summary
Total budget for project: $200,456.85
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
BRIDGE STREET SCHOOL PLAYGROUND
LOCATION: Bridge Street School at 2 Parsons Street, Northampton serves
nearly 300 Pre-K through 5th Grade students from every ward in the city. The
North-ampton Assessor’s Map (attached) shows this as parcel 32A-063.
Bridge Street School is the only remaining original elementary school in North-
ampton and played a role in the 1876 Northampton National Bank robbery
when ‘The gang began by setting up their hideout in the attic of the Bridge
Street School,’ according to historic records.
POPULATION SERVED: In close proximity to downtown Northampton and lo-
cated in the heart of high-density residential Ward 3, Bridge Street School’s
playground serves as both a school playground and an urban park. The play-
ground is used by Bridge students throughout the school day, and by neighbor-
ing families and city visitors on evenings, weekends, and widely used during
the summer months for passive recreation.
The Bridge Street School student body is comprised of:
• 37.8% Free/Reduced Lunch
• 33.5% Minority
• 31.3% Students with Disabilities
The core of the school’s grade K-5 students comes from a geographic section of
Northampton stretching from North King Street and Laurel Park, throughout
Wards 3&4 including Village Hill and Grace House, to the southernmost end of
Ward 6 along Park Hill Road.
PROPERTY INVOLVED & PROBLEMS TO RESOLVE: With the expansion of
the school, and the 2009 relocation of the Pre-K program and its staff to Bridge
Street School, the entire outside play area used by grades 1-6 has been re-
duced to an area measuring approximately 288’ x 80’. The heavy concentration
of students on this small area for 180 days between September and June, plus
evening and weekend use by all visitors to this public city space, has degraded
the playground into a hard-packed dirt area bordered by an 8’ fence, the
school, Lampron Park and newly expanded Pre-K staff parking. Over the sum-
mer, crab grass is the only dominant plant on the space, and once school
starts, the space quickly becomes barren dirt – windswept on gusty days, mud-
dy with rain, and slick on icy days.
The excessive dust, mud and ice have resulted in many problems:
1. The airborne dust is a serious health risk; any level of wind picks up the dust
and creates dust clouds;
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
2. Students lose recess days when it is unsafe to play on the ice or too dusty or
muddy to play outside. Additionally, many students choose to play inside in-
stead of on the deteriorated playground.
3. Teachers and staff can’t open windows on the entire side of the building
along the playground because the dust blows into their classrooms; office
staff report having to put blankets over office equipment to keep the dust
out of them (even with windows closed).
4. Janitors spend many hours cleaning dust from rugs, floors, etc.
5. Families have chosen to attend other elementary schools because of the
poor condition of the Bridge Street playground.
We are seeking funding to rehabilitate the most essential element of the hard-
packed dirt playground, a 200’ x 80’ area which will be transformed into three
play zones: a poured-in-place rubber surface for open play, a ‘natural-elements’
area with wood chip bed, and an asphalt section for basketball and wall ball.
The areas will be separated by a concrete walking and bicycle path which can
be used for school bike safety events and the school’s popular “Walking Club.”
The new surfaces were recommended as the most sustainable and durable so-
lution given this specific area’s usage conditions; grass is not sustainable on
this lot given the confined space and daily traffic according to area turf and
landscape management experts, and the groundskeeper in the Central Services
department.
Overall, the new design will result in 10,900 square feet of new, ADA-compliant
surfacing, which requires little maintenance or future investment of resources,
as well as new garden space. The plan incorporates existing trees, and repur-
poses benches, tables and all of the natural play elements currently on the
space. Additional project work will integrate the newly resurfaced sections with
the existing large play structure which will not be altered in this project.
We plan on raising the additional project costs through community and school
fundraisers, of which $10,285 has already been received. The Bridge Street
School PTO raised $40,000 to renovate the school’s Pre-K/Kindergarten play-
ground in 2008. Combined, this would bring the total raised by the PTO to
$75,000 for renovation and capital improvements to this city and school prop-
erty in the past six years.
One special component of the proposed playground project is “Marie’s Corner”
which will include a Mobius Climber structure. This will be dedicated to longtime
Bridge Street teacher/aid Marie Hershkowitz’s love of climbing and children.
Marie passed away in December 2013 and her family has generously contribut-
ed to this project already. The memorial section will be paid for by the fund-
raising efforts.
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
The attached design plan, prepared by Berkshire Design Group, includes several
play elements which are not included in the project budget at this time. They
remain in the plan for future completion in a subsequent phase of playground
work.
CRITERIA MET BY THIS PROJECT: By restoring the Bridge Street School
playground to its original use as a healthy recreation space for passive and ac-
tive recreating – including free play, basketball, wall ball, climbing, walking,
biking, etc., -- the project would meet the following Conservation Commission,
Recreation Commission; Sustainable Northampton; and Open Space, Recreation
& Multi-Use Trail Plan goals, and requirements for Open Space and Recreation
CPA grants:
1) Increase Open Space passive recreation opportunities in the City.
2) Better maintain Recreational areas.
3) Provide additional recreational opportunities wherever possible.
4) Provide valuable Open Space opportunities in urban neighborhoods.
5) Support multiple active and passive recreation uses.
6) Serve a significant number of residents.
7) Contribute to the positive health status of its citizens.
8) Maximize the utility of land already owned by Northampton.
9) Accomplish recreation goals by restoring or rehabilitating existing facilities
or lands to serve their intended purpose.
10) The City should continue to meet the special recreation needs of the elderly,
environmental justice populations, and the needs of those with disabilities.
11) Incorporate environmentally friendly design and long-term maintenance.
12) Have the support of the Northampton Recreation Commission.
13) Concentrate development in neighborhood, village and commercial centers
supported by adequate infrastructure.
14) Recognize and foster the unique history, character and function of each res-
idential, commercial, mixed-use and open space neighborhood.
15) Provide open space and recreation opportunities for individuals of all ages,
socioeconomic levels, and physical abilities now and for future generations.
16) Use open space and recreation to ensure that the urban and village centers
are attractive places to live, work, and visit.
17) Provide safe, secure, clean and accessible school facilities.
GUARANTEE OF LONG-TERM PRESERVATION: The playground is
maintained by the School Department and will continue to receive maintenance
as needed. The materials proposed for this project have the benefit of
requiring very little maintenance, which was a major determinant in selecting
this groundcover option over grass or other turf materials.
The poured-in-place rubber surface features include:
• Porous – typically used outdoors
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
• IPEMA certified – meets 4’ critical fall heights per ASTM F-1292-04
• Made from post-consumer & pre- and post-industrial recycled materials
• Conforms to requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and
ASTM F-1951-99 Determination of Playground Surface Accessibility
• Eligible for LEED® credits and state grants
• 7-Year Warranty (Super-7 with aromatic urethane)
COMMUNITY SUPPORT: This project has a wide base of support. Attached
are copies of letters from students, teachers, neighbors, and elected
representatives, and nearly 250 signatures on a petition of support for this
project.
Summary of Petition Responses (multiple accepted)
34% My child attends, or went to, Bridge Street School.
13% I am a teacher or staff member at Bridge Street School.
9% I am a Bridge Street School alum.
32% I am a neighbor of Bridge Street School.
45% I am a concerned & supportive community member.
36% Please keep me informed about this project.
The Ward 3 Neighborhood Association has unanimously endorsed the project.
Members of the North Street Neighborhood Association, Graves Avenue
Neighbors, Northampton Commission on Disability, The Board of Health, and
the Northampton City Council also support this project. The attached letters of
support explain the urgent need to resolve this long-standing problem, as well
as how important the Bridge Street School playground is to the community and
City of Northampton. Additionally, the school has collected notes and drawings
from students showing their strong interest in a healthy playground, a small
sample of which are attached.
MEASURE OF SUCCESS: Currently, children are unable to play on a large
area of the playground due to mud and ice which covers the ground and have
to stay inside for recess on many days. With a new playground, the students
and all those who use the playground can enjoy a dust, mud and ice-free play
area. The school can open windows for ventilation without having dust infiltrate
the classrooms and offices. Additionally, the poured rubber surface, asphalt
and the new sidewalk space are all fully accessible by wheelchair users, unlike
the current rutted and muddy surface. The new surface is a dramatic and
sustainable improvement to this problem.
MAINTENANCE: There is little maintenance of the new surface required;
leaves can be brushed off and stains hosed off by school staff as needed. The
School Department will oversee normal maintenance duties of this property.
PROJECT BUDGET: The total project budget is $200,000.00 of which we are
requesting $165,000 in CPA funds. The CPA request will apply primarily to the
costs of design, labor and materials of the resurfacing elements. The $35,000
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
raised by the school community will cover the costs to move benches and
tables, purchase and install the Mobius Climber in “Marie’s Corner,” the
basketball and wall ball supplies, signage, and all incidental costs relating to the
project. Without precise costs for signage and the postage, printing and com-
munications line items, these cost/line items are fungible.
Partial funding of this project would result in the loss or a serious compromise
to the surface solutions which are needed to eliminate the unhealthy conditions
on this school property, as well as the loss of the prospective gain in ADA-
compliant recreation areas.
Attached please find letters of confirmation from the Northampton Recreation
Department, Central Services and the School Department that no other funding
is available to complete this project.
MULTI-YEAR FUNDING: This project will not continue over more than one
year, so multi-year funding will not be required.
PROJECT TIMELINE: Berkshire Design Group has completed designs for the
project (see attached: Color rendering, Demolition and Layout Plan, Grading
Plan and Detail Plan), working with property plans provided by the Department
of Public Works. Berkshire Design Group will oversee the bidding process which
they anticipate can be completed by June, 2014. With approved funding,
construction of this project can begin on July 1, 2014 with a reasonable
completion date by or before August 30, 2014. Bridge Street School students
and the community at-large, can have a healthy, refurbished playground by the
start of the 2014-15 school year.
FEASIBILITY: It is our understanding that no zoning permits, environmental
assessments, or other agreements apply to this project. Berkshire Design
Group will coordinate the bid process. A contractor will be selected to complete
the project according to all normal laws and regulations applying to city
vendors. At this point, there are no known or potential barriers to this project’s
implementation.
MAPS: Attached are Assessors and Google View maps of the property.
EXISTING CONDITIONS: Attached are recent photos showing the existing
condition of the playground.
The project architect is:
Y. Michael Liu
The Berkshire Design Group
4 Allen Place
Northampton, MA 01062
mike@berkshiredesign.com
413-582-7000 tel 413-582-7005 fax
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
Google Aerial View
Bridge Street School
Playground marked in red text at center of photo.
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
Northampton City Assessors Map 32A
Bridge Street School Playground marked in yellow on parcel 32A-063.
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
November 19, 2013
January 15, 2014
Bridge Street School Playground
Current Conditions
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
BERKSHIRE DESIGN GROUP / Bridge Street School Playground
Color Rendering
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
BERKSHIRE DESIGN GROUP / Bridge Street School Playground
Demolition & Layout Plan
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
BERKSHIRE DESIGN GROUP / Bridge Street School Playground
Grading Plan
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
BERKSHIRE DESIGN GROUP / Bridge Street School Playground
Grading Plan
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
COUNCILORS
AT LARGE
William H. Dwight – President
Jesse M. Adams – Vice-President
WARD
1 Maureen T. Carney
2 Paul D. Spector
3 Ryan R. O’Donnell
4 Gina Louise Sciarra
5 David A. Murphy
6 Marianne L. LaBarge
7 Alisa F. Klein
January 20, 2014
City Councilor Marianne LaBarge
698 Westhampton Road
Florence, MA 01062
Beth Choquette, Principal
Bridge Street School
2 Parsons Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Dear Principal Choquette:
I am writing you to show my support of the Bridge Street School Playground Renovation Project.
The Bridge Street School playground is used by nearly 300 Pre-K through 5th Grade students from every
ward in the City of Northampton, and by families and visitors on evenings, weekends and all summer.
The playground has deteriorated into a small, hard-packed dirt area with no grass, making it dusty, muddy
and icy, and sometimes unusable by the students. The excessive dust is not only unhealthy for those who
use the playground, it is creating extra work and a poor academic environment within the school. Teachers
report that they can’t open adjacent windows because the dust coats their classrooms, and school janitors
spend time cleaning the dirt from doormats and hallways. Some students choose to have recess inside due
to the poor condition of the playground. This is unacceptable.
It is important that Northampton keep our school playgrounds in good condition. This project is shovel-
ready, with designs finalized, and construction easily completed by the start of school in September. The
new design will give the students and neighbors a handicapped-accessible play surface, an area for basket-
ball and wallball, natural play elements, and will make use of existing benches and tables.
I highly add my support to this very worthwhile project, the renovation of Bridge Street School’s playground,
paid for by CPA funds.
Sincerely,
Marianne LaBarge
Ward 6 City Councilor
CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF NORTHAMPTON
MASSACHUSETTS
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
Northampton Council on Aging & Senior Center
Patricia Shaughnessy, Director
pshaughnessy@northamptonma.gov
Crystal Cote-Stosz, Assistant Director
ccote@northamptonma.gov
67 Conz St., Northampton, MA 01060 Telephone: (413)587-1228 Fax: (413)587-1233
www.northamptonseniors.com
February 1, 2014
To Whom It May Concern:
As the City of Northampton ADA Coordinator, as well as the liaison with the Northampton Com-
mission on Disability, I am always impressed and interested in supporting projects when considera-
tion for persons with disabilities is included. The improvements and enhancements to the Bridge
Street School playground will provide additional compliant recreation options for persons with dis-
abilities and will offer their families and friends with other opportunities for participating in leisure
activities with them.
Safety should never be compromised for accessibility and with new surfaces such as the poured–in-
place smooth rubber, asphalt and concrete, accessible safety surfacing will be achieved for equal-
access play events in an ADA compliant structured area. Such surfaces that are compliant will al-
low participants a full experience which can provide interaction, socialization and physical activity.
Though this is a playground, and a playground is usually thought of “for children”, many adults
with disabilities who are in attendance with their child(ren), will also have safer surfaces in which
to navigate. Imagine a parent in a wheelchair passing a basketball to their child on the asphalt court
without the wheels sinking in the dirt or mud. Or imagine a team of children practicing for the Spe-
cial Olympics on the concrete path which provides a level surface for their balance while they run.
The Bridge Street School playground, with these new courts and paths, may well make it the largest
ADA compliant playground with multiple features in the City of Northampton. Making more op-
portunities for persons with disabilities would certainly be evident if this project came to fruition.
This project is well defined and I encourage you to support funding for this valuable community
endeavor that encompasses ADA compliance.
Sincerely,
Patricia A. Shaughnessy
Patricia A. Shaughnessy
ADA Coordinator
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
CITY of NORTHAMPTON
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS:
Donna Salloom, Chair ~ Joanne Levin, MD ~ Suzanne Smith, MD, MPH
William Hargraves ~ Cynthia Suopis, PhD
STAFF: Merridith O’Leary, RS, Director ~ Daniel Wasiuk, Inspector ~ Edmund Smith, Inspector ~ Jennifer
Brown, RN, Nurse
Date: February 3, 2014
To: Beth Choquette, Principal
From: Merridith A. O’Leary, Public Health Director
Re: Bridge Street School Playground
I am pleased to hear that your school is vying for CPA funding to enhance and improve
the Bridge Street School Playground.
With the deterioration of the park and the expansion of the school, I feel that a rehabilitat-
ed playground will not only provide an opportunity for the school children to be more
physically active but also for those families and children who utilize the playground after
hours, weekends and school vacations. An increase in physical activity not only benefits
our physical health, but also improves our physiological health and social health.
As the health and wellbeing of our children are impacted by the daily environment in
which they live, learn, and play, I fully support the proposed project to rehabilitate Bridge
Street School Park.
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
From: Melvin Hershkowitz <drmelvin23@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Jan 23, 2014 at 12:04 PM
Subject: Re: Bridge Street Playground Meetings and Update
To: Beth Choquette <bchoquette@northampton-k12.us>
Dear Beth: Thank you for your informative letter of January 22,2014 about plans for the project to
reconstruct and renovate the Bridge Street School playground.I support this project, in the belief that
it is important for the education and psychologic development of the children in the Bridge School to
have a safe, suitable outdoor site for free play time with each other,and to interact spontaneously
with classmates outside the classroom.These activities enhance students' self-confidence, and im-
prove their ability to make close friendships during their school years and later in life.My late daugh-
ter,Marie Hershkowitz,who taught at BSS from 2001 to 2013,was active in playground activities
with her 4th and 5th grade students,and often told me about the positive consequences of her outdoor
sessions with them.Marie was a talented remedial teacher for students with problems in mathematics
and reading,and was also an expert Climber.Many of her students enjoyed their climbing sessions
with her, and remember her for their happy times with her in the BSS Playground.
I am making a financial contribution to the BSS PTO Playground project,which I will deliver to you
on January 25,2014 at Marie's Memorial ceremony. I encourage all who are interested,and able to do
so,to add their financial support
Please feel free to forward this letter to the CPA Project authorities for their consideration in decid-
ing about the BSS Playground reconstruction grant request.
Sincerely,
Melvin Hershkowitz,M.D.
22 Northern Avenue
Northampton,MA 01060
413-586-1517
drmelvin23@gmail.com
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
From: Thomas Horton [mailto:thomashort@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2014 9:09 PM
To: bchoquette@northampton-k12.us
Subject: Bridge Street Playground
To whom it may concern: I am writing in support of the repair-redevelopment of the Bridge Street
Playground CPA application. We have had the good fortune of residing across the street from Bridge
Street School since 1999. Our two girls Emma (14) and Georgia (13) both "graduated" from Bridge
Street School and now attend public middle school and high school in Northampton. Our son Charlie
is currently attending the 4th grade at Bridge Street and spends every afternoon, after school and be-
fore homework, with his knot of friends burning off pent-up energy. Indeed our whole family views
the school-ground as combination of gym, meeting place, social venue, park, and a corridor to
friends homes, the bike path, the neighborhood. For too long however the playground has been inac-
cessible on all but dry and wind-free days. With rain, the rocky dirt yard becomes muddy and when
dry and windy, a dust bowl that rivals Kansas in the 1930's.
Now, I need to say that I am particularly sensitive to accessibility issues, as I spend my waking hours
in a wheelchair. In early 2008, when my oldest daughter was 8 years old, I suffered a serious spinal
cord injury. Since then, it's only in the kindest of conditions that I can visit with my kids when at the
playground, throw my son a baseball, practice my awesome wheelchair wheelies, join the other par-
ents as they cluster together to catch-up on what's happening in the neighborhood. It's my under-
standing that the playground, like the school, is being designed as an ADA compliant destination. I
think that's just awesome! It's as it should be, as people with disabilities, old folks like me and young
students at Bridge Street should all have ability to use and enjoy the playground at the school they
attend or send their kids to. With that in mind, I hope you will consider this application, and know
that for many reasons and many people it will be important, enriching, and appreciated.
Respectfully yours,
--
Tom Horton
115 Bridge Street,
Northampton, MA 01060
CC: Beth Choquette
Principal, Bridge Street School
413.584.4491 - Office
thomaswhorton -- Skype
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
From: Pamela Schwartz <pschwartz77@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jan 29, 2014 at 9:52 PM
Subject: Re: BSS letter of support
Dear Community Preservation Committee:
I am writing in support of the Bridge Street School's playground renovation project. As a resident of
Northampton for over 20 years and a parent of 3 children who graduated from Bridge Street School,
I know first hand the urgent need for this renovation and the benefit it will provide to both students
and the wider community.
Providing safe and inviting places to play outside is a cornerstone of a healthy community. Bridge
Street School's playground has suffered on both counts for years. Our public school students de-
serve a quality place to play, as does the entire neighborhood. The CPC's support of this project
would make possible an accessible outdoor play space in this densely populated area of our city.
This investment of CPA dollars would yield a high return in the lives of children and their families
for years to come.
When our youngest child graduated Bridge Street School in 2012, we wanted to make a donation to
honor the excellent education received by our 3 children over their cumulative 18 years at the
school. We decided almost instantly that our donation would support the playground renovation.
What better way to celebrate the lasting impact of Bridge Street School than to help close one of the
gaps for all of the children in the years ahead. The CPC's partnership in this project will make this
vision possible. Give the children in and around Bridge Street a wonderful place to play and our
community will be enriched well beyond the contours of the playground itself.
Thanks so much for your consideration.
Best,
Pamela Schwartz
22 Columbus Avenue
586-7113
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
From: Denise Quenneville <emilysmaid@yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, Jan 23, 2014 at 7:19 PM
Mr. Downey Meyer, Chair
Community Preservation Committee
Northampton Office of Planning and Sustainability
210 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Dear Chairman Meyer and members of the CPC;
Mr. Downey Meyer, Chair
Community Preservation Committee
Northampton Office of Planning and Sustainability
210 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Dear Chairman Meyer and members of the CPC;
At our meeting on Jan. 11 the board of the Ward Three Neighborhood Association heard a
fine presentation and saw the preliminary plans for the proposed renovation of the play
space at Bridge St. School. We asked many questions. The board agreed unanimously to
support funding for this plan by the Community Preservation Committee. It will provide a
durable and attractive space in which both students and community residents can entertain
themselves most of the year instead of the dusty area that is now available. It is a very
worthy use of our community’s funds for recreation.
Safe playgrounds and parks are essential.
Regards
Denise Quenneville
Ward Three Association Board Member
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
From: Toni Hochstadt <toni@alumnae.smith.edu>
Date: Thu, Jan 23, 2014 at 10:31 AM
Subject: Support for BSS Playground Improvements
January 23, 2013
Mr. Downey Meyer, Chair
Community Preservation Committee
Northampton Office of Planning and Sustainability
210 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Dear Chairman Meyer and members of the CPC;
I am writing in support of the request for financial assistance to improve the community's
playground at Bridge Street School. While the school is the reason the playground exists, it
serves the community at large as a quasi-public park for residents and visitors alike. At the
gateway to our City, it invites recreation to all who pass. I believe we should invest in its
improvement and upkeep.
Respectfully,
Toni Hochstadt
28 Fruit St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Mother of four (4) Northampton Public School Students
Board Member, Ward Three Neighborhood Association
Board Member, Northampton Affordable Housing Partnership
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
From: Andy Turrett
Date: Saturday, January 18, 2014
Subject:
To: Beth Choquette bchoquette@northampton-k12.us
Dear Beth Choquette,
I am writing to give 100% support for the playground project at the Bridge Street
School. I am a neighbor of the Bridge Street School who lives on Graves Ave-
nue. I don’t see a downside to the projected playground. The current play-
ground and surrounding space are run down and need to be improved to provide
a safe, healthy, and fun environment for the kids and teachers who use it. I
hope that this project will proceed forward and be available for use in September
2014.
All the best,
Andy
Andy Turrett
Audio Daddy-O dba
Massachusetts, USA
Cell: 413-695-2616
aturrett@aol.com
www.audiodaddyo.com
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
BRIDGE STREET SCHOOL
PLAYGROUND UPGRADE
PROJECT BUDGET
Design, construction, materials $196,206.85
(Itemized estimate attached)
Conduit installation 500.00
Signage 2,500.00
Misc.events, postage, printing, communications 1,250.00
Total Project Budget: $200,456.85
CPA Funding Request $165,000.00
Community Fundraising 35,456.85
Total Project Funding: $200,456.85
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
Bridge Street Park Playground Improvements
Opinion of Probable Cost
Prepared by: The Berkshire Design Group, Inc. 2014.01.21
Item Unit Quantity Unit Price Total
1. Contractor Bonds, Mobilization LS 1 $5,500.00 $5,500.00
2. Remove wood edging LF 295 $2.50 $737.50
3. Relocate Bench EA 3 $250.00 $750.00
4. Relocate Picnic Table EA 2 $400.00 $800.00
5. Relocate Rocks and Stumps LS 1 $1,000.00 $1,000.00
6. Strip Loam (6" depth) CY 290 $6.00 $1,740.00
7. Earthwork/Imported Fill (assume 8" ave) CY 390 $18.00 $7,020.00
8. Rubber Play Surfacing SF 6725 $14.50 $97,512.50
9. 6" Gravel Base CY 125 $20.00 $2,500.00
10. Concrete Walks (4' wide) SF 1170 $5.00 $5,850.00
11. 8" Gravel Base CY 30 $20.00 $600.00
12. Wood Play Surface SF 850 $4.50 $3,825.00
13. Wood Mulch Area SF 1810 $1.50 $2,715.00
14. Block Wall/Steps (125 ft) SF 210 $7.50 $1,575.00
15. Bit. Conc. Paving (3" thick) SF 3026 $2.25 $6,808.50
16. 12" Gravel Base CY 114 $20.00 $2,280.00
17. Basketball Goal EA 1 $1,200.00 $1,200.00
18. Paint Basketball Lines LS 1 $500.00 $500.00
19. Wood Ball Wall LS 1 $1,500.00 $1,500.00
20. New Climber Structure EA 1 $18,000.00 $18,000.00
21. Large Clubhouse by others EA 1 $0.00 $0.00
22. Medium Clubhouse by others EA 1 $0.00 $0.00
23. Log Balance Beams by others LS 1 $0.00 $0.00
24. Wood Stumps-Additional by others LS 1 $0.00 $0.00
25. Large Stones-Additional by others LS 1 $0.00 $0.00
26. Memorial Stone Bench by others EA 1 $0.00 $0.00
27. Memorial Tree by others EA 1 $0.00 $0.00
28. Raise CB rim EA 2 $350.00 $700.00
29. New Drain Inlet EA 1 $1,000.00 $1,000.00
30. Spread Loam from Stockpile (6" depth) CY 40 $10.00 $400.00
31. Seed & Fertilize SF 2200 $0.10 $220.00
Subtotal $164,733.50
10% Contractor O&P $16,473.35
Designer Fee LS 1 $15,000.00 $15,000.00
GRAND TOTAL $196,206.85
Note:
This opinion of probable cost is NOT a guaranteed amount, and may vary due to uncontrollable fluctuations
in labor prices and material prices. The amount shown is based on our professional
judgement, and current-year pricing for similar work in the region of the project.
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
BRIDGE STREET SCHOOL
ON-LINE PETITION OF SUPPORT
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
BRIDGE STREET SCHOOL
PETITION OF SUPPORT SIGNATURES
SUMMARY OF RESPONSES (multiple accepted)
34% My child attends, or went to, Bridge Street School.
13% I am a teacher or staff member at Bridge Street School.
9% I am a Bridge Street School alum.
32% I am a neighbor of Bridge Street School.
45% I am a concerned & supportive community member.
36% Please keep me informed about this project.
1. Gina-Louise Sciarra Northampton
2. William Scher Northampton
3. Tad Puckett Deerfield
4. Endamian Stewart Northampton
5. Melissa frenier Northampton
6. Jody Santos Northampton
7. Megan R. Zinn Northampton
8. Tom Jordan Leeds
9. Michele Marotta Northampton
10. Mark Watts Holyoke
11. Laura Mangones Northampton
12. Marianne Milton Northampton
13. Mary Beth O'Connor Florence
14. Lynn Sireci Florence
15. deborah keisch Northampton
16. Rita and Brien Anderson Florence
17. Johanna McKenna Longmeadow
18. Sheilah bolger Northampton
19. casey matthias Turners Falls
20. Shane frenier Northampton
21. Gail frenier Northampton
22. Emily Jimenez
23. Jean Monska Florence
24. Shannon Daniels Northampton
25. Jen Busone Northampton
26. Kris Galenski Belchertown
27. Ina Iansiti Northampton
28. Kara Shaw Florence
29. Angel Emerson Florence
30. Daniel Emerson Florence
31. Karin Karparis Northampton
32. Peggy Ladouceur Florence
33. Beverly Shaw Florence
34. Michael Marotta Northampton
35. Danielle Clough Northampton
36. Jen Shea Northampton
37. Julia Niemczyk Northampton
38. Julia Niemczyk Northampton
39. Jen Shea Northampton
40. Krista Matrishon
41. Jennifer Carbery Northampton
42. Mandy Gerry Northampton
43. Alyssa Danvers, MA
44. Lindsey Drozdal Akers Florence
45. Kathryn Gerry Lawrence, KS
46. Andorra krilanovich gerry San Francisco
47. jade fournier Northampton
48. Sarah Bidus Florence
49. William Akers Florence
50. Jennifer Nuttelman Southwick
51. Mark Bidus Northampton
52. Katie Galenski Belchertown,
MA
53. Rachel Ames Florence
54. Graham Ridley Northampton
55. Catherine Mears Northampton
56. Ellen Nigrosh Northampton
57. Jackie Lienert Florence
58. Marlene Rye Florence
59. Jeanne Hoose Northampton
60. Karen Bayne Northampton
61. Oliver Max nigrosh Windsor, CT
62. Anne-Marie Mann Florence
63. Barbara Dunn Northampton
64. Betsy Daly Northampton
65. Chelsea Northampton
66. Natasha Yakovlev
67. Naomi Shulman Northampton
68. Alex Hughes Northampton
69. Valle Dwight Florence
70. Henry Reade Florence
71. Donald MacMillan Florence
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
72. Isa Deloge Northampton
73. Naomi Klayman Northampton
74. Eliza Cooney Williamsburg
75. Grant Wilson Northampton
76. Anita Rao Northampton
77. Sharon Kubin Northampton
78. Jotham Stavely Northampton
79. Eliza Cooney Northampton
80. Madeline Weaver
Blanchette
Northampton
81. Dale West Leeds
82. Leah Gregg Northampton
83. Bernadette Giblin Northampton
84. Ruth McGrath Northampton
85. Bob Reckman Northampton
86. Kim Duval Florence
87. Lou Franco Northampton
88. Donna Wilkins - Carmody Northampton
89. Stephanie Osiecki Northampton
90. Jane Fleishman Northampton
91. Joan Tabachnick Northampton
92. Jasmeet Singh Northampton
93. Garrett Welson Northampton
94. Kristin Edmonds Northampton
95. Joanne Hoyt Northampton
96. Barbara Rakaska Florence
97. Lisa Baskin Leeds
98. John Allan La Chapelle Northampton
99. Kim pedigo Florence
100. Janet Larson Florence
101. Lu Stone Northampton
102. Lee Thomson Northampton
103. Deborah miller Holyoke
104. Kate ewall Northampton
105. Elizabeth McLain Northampton
106. Erin Mahon-Moore Leeds
107. Patricia Dubiel BSS Staff
108. Leda Mahmoodi Northampton
109. amanda Oxford, NY
110. Leslie Lynn Lucio Northampton
111. Elanit Weisbaum Northampton
112. LISA ANDREWS Northampton
113. Marianne LaBarge,
City Councilor Ward 6
Florence
114. sarah Hougen Northampton
115. Martha Ebner Northampton
116. Asher Pandjiris Northampton
117. Claire Ardito
118. stephen sireci Florence
119. hailu dyami Northampton
120. Gavin Grant Northampton
121. Karyn Nelson Leeds
122. Thomas J. O'Connor, Jr. Florence
123. Hans Leo Northampton
124. Bill Dwight Northampton
125. Samuel Nigrosh Northampton
126. Adam Cohen Northampton
127. Seth Fischer Northampton
128. Carl Knerr Northampton
129. Blue DuVal Florence
130. David Santos Northampton
131. Dylan Gaffney Northampton
132. Margaret Rounds Northampton
133. Vicky House Florence
134. Heather Polson Northampton
135. Laura Fallon Northampton
136. Natasha Anderson South Hadley
137. Tom Bassett Florence
138. Stephen Hathaway Northampton
139. Julianna Tymoczko Northampton
140. Dmitri Tymoczko Philadelphia
141. Melvin Hershkowitz, MD Northampton
142. Prashant Shenoy Northampton
143. Pamela Schwartz Northampton
144. Beth Goldstein Northampton
145. Adele Franks Florence
146. Ruth von Goeler Northampton
147. Karen S Spindel Northampton
148. Joanne Cannon Northampton
149. Shelley Parker Northampton
150. Caleb Rounds Northampton
151. Alison Sunkler Northampton
152. Kathy Goos Northampton
153. phyllis muldoon Northampton
154. Rachel Stevens Northampton
155. Anna Hansen Northampton
156. Barry Werth Northampton
157. Emily Werth Northampton
158. Rachael Hougen Northampton
159. Jeanne Leblond RN BSN BSS Staff
160. Megan Murphy Wolf Northampton
161. Darla Gormley Northampton
162. Joe Gormley Northampton
163. Dorothy Labato Northampton
164. Dominic Labato Northampton
165. Marion Aughtry Northampton
166. Tim & Wendy Van Epps Northampton
167. Wendy Robinson Northampton
168. Kirsten Rybczynski Northampton
169. Jennifer Normanly Northampton
170. howard moore Northampton
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
171. elizabeth haymaker Northampton
172. Laurie Clark Northampton
173. Gina-Kamas Choi Northampton
174. MJ Geller Northampton
175. Kelsey Flynn Northampton
176. Alexandra Russell Northampton
177. Brant Jones Northampton
178. Alexandra Russell Northampton
179. Alexandra Russell Northampton
180. Patricia Formant Northampton
181. Caroline Raisler Northampton
182. Molly Watkins Northampton
183. lola reid Northampton
184. Carin Clevidence Northampton
185. Roni Gold Northampton
186. Andy Turrett Northampton
187. Sarah McDowell Northampton
188. Mac Everett Northampton
189. Regina McNally Northampton
190. Jennifer Allen Northampton
191. Lindsey Drozdal-Akers Florence
192. Andrea Haber Florence
193. William Haber Florence
194. Wanda Rolon Northampton
195. Amy Toulson Northampton
196. Ana Araujo Northampton
197. Pesha Black Northampton
198. Susan Rees Florence
199. Holly Mott Northampton
200. Anne Schlereth Northampton
201. Elizabeth Reynolds Northampton
202. Nat Reade Florence
203. Stephanie Osiecki Northampton
204. Carol Young Northampton
205. Patrick A Boughan Florence
206. Alan H Bloomgarden Florence
207. Karen Hurd BSS Staff
208. Adam Corriveau Northampton
209. Alison Morse Northampton
210. Renata Dudek Northampton
211. Andrzej Cwalina Hinsdale, NH
212. Bert Rothenbach Northampton
213. timothy van epps Northampton
214. wendy van epps Northampton
215. Kristin Gianchetti BSS Staff
216. Beth Choquette BSS Staff
217. Abel Millet BSS Staff
218. Ann Carpenter BSS Staff
219. Betsey White BSS Staff
220. Beverly Shaw BSS Staff
221. Craig Murdock BSS Staff
222. Deb Dietrich BSS Staff
223. Deb Willis BSS Staff
224. Elizabeth Cunningham BSS Staff
225. Elizabeth Ploof BSS Staff
226. Jen Busone BSS Staff
227. Kathy Richards BSS Staff
228. Kelly Martin BSS Staff
229. Laura Vachula BSS Staff
230. Laurie Sperry BSS Staff
231. Leslie Stein BSS Staff
232. Maryellen Bradley-Gilbert BSS Staff
233. Nora DeJasu BSS Staff
234. Patrick Fennesy BSS Staff
235. Peggy Paul BSS Staff
236. Pixie Holbrook BSS Staff
237. Susan Osepowicz BSS Staff
238. Jack Finn Northampton
239. Sarah Hougen Northampton
240. Jeffrey Darling Florence
241. Kirk Sanger Northampton
242. Andrea Marks Northampton
243. Sarah Towers Northampton
244. Heidi O'Neil Northampton
245. Steve Williams Northampton
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Bridge Street School Playground CPA Application / February 2014
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