Facing a grant application deadline, Chestertown Town Council voted to approve a request for a $200,000 grant from Maryland Community Parks and Playgrounds to create a playground at Wilmer Park.
The Parks and Playground provides funding for restoration and creation of parks in Maryland cities and towns. Chestertown has benefitted from them previously with grants for creating Gateway Park, the Bailey Dog Park, and others.
Placement of the playground at Wilmer Park would leave the Ajax basketball half-court on Cross St. intact and open for ideas to renovate it.
Ward 1 Councilman David Foster administered the meeting during Mayor Cerino’s vacation.
Citing a groundswell of public support both for the retention of Ajax court and the playground at Wilmer Park, Foster opened a discussion to any address concerns.
Charles Lerner, a resident living next to the park, conveyed his concern that the playground concept as submitted would overpopulate the park during the pandemic period and contradict the natural serenity of the area. He agreed with the need for the playground to boost activities for young families but felt the current model from Berliner Company was unattractive and suggested that the council and Recreation Committee look at models more fitting to park aesthetics and that rather having one large playground to consider modular playground equipment spread over a wider area.
Jen Baker, co-owner of Chester River Wine and Cheese Company suggested the Recreation Committee talk to local designers to evaluate the Berliner playground options that would address possible noise issues.
Rebecca Murphy, owner of RCM Strategic Consulting, supported having Ajax court revitalized and the playground located at Wilmer Park.
Local businessman Frank Rhodes offered an overview of Ajax’s court’s generational history and that its creation to offer youth wider access to activities was a good example of how the Town has valued works that enhance the community. With local fundraising and some help from the Town, Rhodes felt that the area could once again be a healthy activity center.
The Council agreed that applying for the grant would still allow time to make different design choices for the playground and looked forward to dialogue with the public.
Here are a few minutes from the discussion, featuring Charles Lerner, Jennifer Baker, Frank Rhodes and Ward 2 Councilman Tom Herz.
The Monday Aug 3 council meeting will hear the Social Action Committee for Racial Justice’s presentation about the proposed Black Lives Matter street mural.
This video is approximately six minutes in length
Penelope McCrea says
I think the playground in Wilmer Park is a great idea! Let’s look at its design and make it more appropriate to our environment. The playground should have an Eastern Shore theme with boats, fish, turtles that would represent Chestertown – it would be so appropriate with the stainless steel wave nearby.
There is a playground in Gaithersburg that has done this — I would love to attach some photos to demonstrate what can be done.
Robin Faitoute says
Look to Pierce’s Park along Baltimore Inner Harbor for inspiration. A wonderful whimsical play space incorporating shaded seating, native plantings and stormwater retention ponds. Fun homonyms along the pathways, supersized xylophone, willow tunnel…. a pleasure to look at and play in. Why not respond to the natural setting and encourage exploration without defaulting to typical playground primary colors and structures?
Kent Yarmouth says
I hope a lesson has been learned from some other local playgrounds regarding the mistake of putting aesthetics for the community over functionality for the children. Otherwise let’s stop pretending and just put up more art.
Nancy Bennington says
I support retaining and improving the Ajax Park Playground WITH a proper and updated basketball court. This will create a multi- purpose and multi-generational play space downtown. The Ajax park location is more centrally located and within a safe walking distance of many young families and children in the community.
On a playground in Wilmer Park-I do not support a playground there- because Wilmer park IS a playground in and of itself. The Covid lockdown has shown us how valuable, safe, healthy, and open green space is to a community. Wilmer Park is used from dawn to dusk , seven days a week by all ages and ethnic minorities in Kent County and beyond. As is and without a “scripted” playground.
The proposed playground at 3,760 sq. ft. covers almost an acre of land. Wilmer Park is 6.5 acres. If we set aside .5 acres for the entrance and location of the award winning, playscape ,”Broad Reach” that leaves 6 acres of park. So-this proposed playground will cover 1/5th of the remaining park and will involve ripping out the existing green space to be replaced and covered over with plastic materials “guaranteed for 50 years”. Is this really what the community understands is happening and wants in this space?
Nancy Bennington says
Dear Editor-
Pressed “send” before review of my comments…meant to say proposed playground will cover 1/6 of Wilmer Park not 1/5…Thank you for the correction on the post…nancy bennington
Patricia Keefe says
Wilmer Park is the Jewell of the Chester uniquely sitting on the banks of a lovely, active river. How many parks have this
picturest environment. It is an entertaining, cultural and economic center open to children’s hat parades, dog shows,
chef’s competition, weddings, bocce,croquet family reunions, boat shows on the river, balloon rides, and as many functions as can be imagined. It is not a proper location for a playground which can be located anywhere. The waterfront of this park can not be duplicated. A very poor decision based on the immediate possibility of money drove the vote, not a consideration of opportunities in this setting. This vote should be re-evaluated in favor of a Jewell of the Chester which would enhance living for residents as well as attracting tourists that would boost the businesses of our town.