New Playground Coming To Greenport Schools

Greenport schoolchildren will soon have a new place to play.

According to Greenport School Superintendent Michael Comanda, plans are moving forward to revamp the district's playground.

A groundbreaking is slated for the end of June, Comanda said.

"It's going to be really nice -- we're going to get rid of the wooden set that's falling apart on us," he said.

The project was discussed in 2010, Comanda said, after voters approved a $7.4 million capital improvement bond. 

The $7.4 capital improvement bond included putting a new roof on the 1930s building, replacing most of the windows, replacing boilers with fuel-efficient models, restoring the auditorium, replacing the phone and clock system, making the second and third floor bathrooms handicapped accessible, installing new water fountains, and updating the fire alarm system.

"We got a great rate on the bond because the economy was so bad -- there was so much competition. We got great prices on the roof, the windows, and the boiler," Comanda said. "We had said that if we had a surplus, we would redo the playground."

And, Comanda, said, "when the dust settled," there was an extra $150,000, the bulk of which was allocated toward the new playground.

As the new playground is built, Comanda said all the sand in the area will be removed; the new product is fire-retardant and ADA compliant, he said.

"It's really great, to do something like this that people can see and everyone can use," Comanda said. "It's good stuff."