Staff Report
The town celebrated the completion of its new Community Field playground Wednesday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by officials, school representatives and community members.
The new playground replaces equipment that had served the community for 25 years and had reached the end of its useful life. Following a failed safety inspection and concerns about the aging equipment, the town drafted plans to create a safer, more accessible and inclusive recreational space, according to information provided by the town on Thursday, Oct. 29.
The new playground features updated play structures and safety surfacing designed to accommodate children of varying ages and abilities, providing opportunities for recreation, physical activity and social interaction.
The project was funded through $500,000 in capital funding and $75,000 in state funding secured by state Rep, Adam Scanlon, D-North Attleborough.
For Parks and Recreation Director Steven Carvalho, the project marks a full-circle moment. The original Community Field playground was one of the first projects he worked on when he joined the town 25 years ago.
During Wednesday’s ceremony, Town Manager Michael Borg emphasized the importance of investing in spaces that bring residents together and support the community’s youngest members.
“Every community makes choices about where to invest,” said Borg in a statement. “Roads, buildings, equipment; those matter. But the investments that pay the greatest returns are the ones we make in our children.”
Borg described the playground as a “classroom without walls,” where children learn to work together, build friendships, solve problems and develop confidence and resilience through play.
“That’s why we build playgrounds. I’ll say it plainly: I’ll take a playground over a data center any day,” Borg said. “A data center may hum along behind a fence, but a playground brings people together. Parents meet neighbors. Grandparents bring the next generation. Kids grow up with memories of a place that belonged to them. That’s what makes a town a community.”
Borg also recognized the many individuals and departments involved in bringing the project to completion, including Parks and Recreation, state Rep. Adam Scanlon, the Town Council, School Committee and school leadership.
“You’ve given North Attleborough something that will pay dividends for decades,” Borg said.
He concluded his remarks with a message to the children who will enjoy the playground for years to come. “So, to the kids here today: this is yours. Run hard, climb high, play fair, and have fun.”