Marshfield Moves Toward Safer, More Accessible Playgrounds

MARSHFIELD — A lengthy and, at times, emotional public discussion on playground conditions and accessibility took center stage at the Marshfield Select Board’s June 11 Public Discussion, with officials outlining a comprehensive plan to upgrade the town’s school playgrounds using a solution that ADA-compliant, maintenance-free, and poured-in-place (PIP) rubber surfacing.

Select Board Chair Eric Kelly called the discussion to clarify plans for how the town will spend $750,000 in Community Preservation Act funding, approved at Town Meeting to resurface playgrounds with ADA-compliant materials. But several parents, particularly those of children with disabilities, expressed concern that the meeting was a stall tactic.

“My daughter in a wheelchair still has to watch her friends play,” said one parent. “You are literally the only person in this room stopping it. Only one.”

Kelly expressed concern about the long-term viability of poured-in-place (PIP) rubber surfacing, which is favored by the Department of Public Works Superintendent Shawn Patterson and Building Commissioner Andrew Stewart for meeting accessibility and safety goals.

In recent inspections at Governor Winslow and Daniel Webster schools, town staff, school administrators, and engineers found the current wood chip surfacing lacking.

“It doesn’t hold up. I don’t have the staff to maintain the wood chips every year,” said Patterson. “You’re talking $3,000 a load to bring the chips in. It’s a big undertaking.”

Stewart echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that PIP would ensure a smoother, safer, and more accessible surface for students with disabilities.

“The amount of daily maintenance [wood chips] would take is not feasible. It’s not sustainable,” he said.

Despite some community concerns about the heat retention of PIP and potential toxicity, officials cited studies that showed no alarming data. To address heat concerns, shade structures may be considered in a future funding cycle.

As several residents in attendance voiced frustration at the pace of progress, Stewart and Patterson reaffirmed their commitment to both immediate accessibility and long-term planning.

“Let’s be clear. We need to get the ball rolling and I’m going to hang my hat on the PIP. This is the way we need to go,” Patterson said.

Patterson and Stewart confirmed that the DPW will be inspecting the remaining playgrounds immediately, with the goal of starting construction before the school year begins. Patterson also called for a capital maintenance plan, which has been lacking in past years.

The board also heard a request to establish a formal playground committee to ensure long-term accountability and planning.

Though debate continued over logistics, including combining this proposed committee with the town’s ADA Committee, the urgency and shared desire for safer, more inclusive play spaces was clear.

Board of Public Works Chair Diane Jordan and others expressed support for the direction the DPW is taking.

“They always planned to make the playgrounds ADA compliant with the PIP,” Jordan said. “We’re only here as a courtesy because the Select Board wanted an update. This isn’t their call.”

For more South Shore news, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.