2014 Annual Report
Final Report to Northampton Community Preservation Committee
Submitted by: Beth Choquette, Principal BSS
Michaela O’Brien, and Mandy Gerry
PROJECT: Bridge Street School Playground Rehabilitation
January 21, 2015
OVERVIEW:
Bridge Street School applied for Community Preservation Act Funding in the amount of $165,000 in
2014 Round 1 period. With the full amount approved by the Community Preservation Act Committee,
the City Council and the Northampton School Committee, the playground renovation project was put
out for bid. One contractor, Diversified Construction of Amherst, bid for the project and was awarded
the contract. Construction began on July 11, 2014 and was completed on August 30, 2014 – in time for
the first day of school on September 2, 2014, meeting a significant goal of the project.
The Bridge Street School playground is now accessible to students and users of all ability, with a low-
maintenance poured-rubber surface students use for freeplay, a basketball and wallball section, a new
climber dedicated to Marie Hershkowitz, natural-elements play area and a walking/bicycling path. The
area is accented with three new tables, one with wheelchair access instead of a bench, new trash re-
ceptacles and a new playhouse built on-site and donated by Valley Home Improvement. A ribbon cut-
ting ceremony was held on October 17 to celebrate and dedicate the new playground and was attend-
ed by Bridge Street School students, families, neighbors, city dignitaries and project donors.
In addition to the $165,000 in CPA funds, the remainder of the project cost, $53,881.00, was raised by
the Bridge Street School PTO. Over 100 individuals, families, neighbors, and area businesses made do-
nations to the project. In-kind service donations included the playhouse, fundraising materials design
by Transit Authority Figures, ad space for fundraising and community Thank You ad by The Daily Hamp-
shire Gazette, and the donation of a supplies shed by the It Takes A Community Foundation.
TIMELINE:
CPA Funding approval April 3, 2014
City Council approval votes April 17, May 1, 2014
School Committee CPA funds acceptance vote May 8, 2014
Bid Process (by Central Services) May 21 – June 4, 2014
Bid negotiations/agreement June 24, 2014
School Committee contract approval vote July 10, 2014
Construction July 11 – August 30, 2014
Playhouse Construction (pro bono) September 22-30
Dedication & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony October 17, 2014
REMAINING WORK:
As of January 21, 2014, there are no remaining costs or work related to the project.
BUDGET vs. FINAL COSTS:
ESTIMATE FINAL
Total Project Cost $200,456.85 $218,881.00
CPA Funding 165,000.00 165,000.00*
Community Fundraising 35,456.85 53,881.00**
*CPA Funding Covered:
Labor, materials, construction up to $165,000.
**Community Fundraising Covered:
Remaining labor, construction $20,826.00
Climber 19,355.00 Bid package Alternate 1; not included in base bid.
Design 12,450.00 Because project design was completed for the appli-
cation, before the CPA funding was authorized, this
amount was not accepted for payment by the city.
Bridge Street School paid directly.
Signage 1,250.00
Total Fundraising Covered: $53,881.00
Thank you for making this healthy, accessible and long-lasting playground upgrade possible.
Beth Choquette
Principal, Bridge Street School
2 Parsons Street, Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 587-1460
bchoquette@northampton-k12.us
Bridge Street School Playground
January 2014
Bridge Street School Playground
September 2014
Bridge Street School
Playhouse built & donated by Valley Home Improvement