Litchfield's Playground Gets Major Upgrade

0:00It's April 30th, on Cory with the story, and this is Hartford News today, your AI-powered local news. Litchfield's community field playground just got a major upgrade after years of turning into a watery mess after every heavy rain. The town poured over $500,000 into the project to fix drainage, safety, and accessibility issues. Now has got a tough new Bondy rubber surface made from recycled tires that soak up water and cushions falls from the tallest equipment. Engineers tackled the old bark mulch that was loose, unsafe, and not up to Americans with disabilities' acc standards. They swapped it for this 4-inch thick rubber in fun zones of blue, gold, green, and red. At a wire fencing all around, plus ornamental grasses, six new linden trees, and boulders for a natural vibe. Parents are loving it already. One nanny said she digs the fenced-in space where kids can climb, roam free, and make friends without worrying. After a recent rain, families reported no puddles, just dry, ready to play ground.

1:04The landscape architect behind it all has big city creds from spots like New York's Lincoln Center and Philly's Love Park. Meanwhile, the field got two new pickleball courts and upgraded tennis courts, too. Grand reopening hit Saturday at noon with a ribbon cutting by the first select woman, balloons, free ice cream, a Lego hunt, and a little league game. This 10.7 acre gym, gifted to the town back in 1929, stays open sunrise to sunset for everyone.