After years of planning, fundraising and volunteer recruitment, the Parks & Rec Committee has completed the renovation of Glenbrook Park. Last weekend, 55 volunteers helped put in the final plantings and the whole park now looks fantastic.
In preparation for the new playground, the Committee consulted with four arborists who all said the exposed roots of the conjoined pine hovering the Glenbrook Park playground signaled a pretty good chance of that tree falling on children. As the Committee has worked in recent years to make all Shandaken play areas safer, they recommended tree removal. Once the pine was down, complaints started from a small group of ill-wishers on social media. Talk about not being able to see the forest for the tree.
Glenbrook Park is now one of the best playgrounds and pavilions in all of Ulster County— a point of pride for every Shandaken resident. During the Balkan Festival one parent said, “I’ve been here for two hours and the kids aren’t even close to bored.” Another woman said, “I can’t believe I’m on the same swing as my granddaughter!”
Samantha Awand and the Parks & Rec Committee are to be commended for their hard, hard work. The new playground was the brain child of Autumn Brookmire, a home-schooling mom who did extensive research before raising funds for a plan. Because she and Sam had a shovel-ready plan for the playground, we were able to secure a $300,000 CREST grant from Senator Michelle Hinchey.
Natural playgrounds engage senses, reduce aggressive behaviors and injuries, develop better risk assessment—all in a more environmentally-sustainable way. And, as it’s designed for multi-generational play, everyone should visit while the weather holds out: to de-stress, to renew your sense of community pride, to feel more at peace.