Terry Date
Staff Writer
LONDONDERRY – Funding for a proposed play area for children at Nelson Field will have to wait until
at least Oct. 15.
On Monday night, the Town Council agreed to await a further review by the Recreation Commission before
releasing $125,000 in recreation impact fees for the 11,500-square-foot play area.
The commission agreed last month to recommend to the council that it withdraw the money to pay for the
demolition of the current playground and purchase its equipment.
But upon further study, Town Manager Dave Caron suggested Monday night that the commission review all
recreation project needs listed in a 2003 report before issuing its recommendation to the council.
Next week, the commission will review the needs identified by the Recreation Facilities Planning Committee.
Recreation Department Director Art Psaledas said the recreation group is nearly positive it wants to use the
impact fees for the Project P.L.A.Y. initiative.
"Right now, we are 95 to 98 percent positive but Dave wants us to be 100 percent positive," Psaledas
said to the council.
Project P.L.A.Y. Chairwoman Lara McIntyre said she is looking forward to the council voting to support use
of the fees because then the project leaders will have more luck securing corporate donations for some of
the remaining funding needs. She hopes construction will start in the spring.
The group of local mothers involved in Project P.LA.Y. have raised about $38,000 this year for the project
- money to pay for the playground surface and fencing. McIntyre estimates it will cost about $200,000 to
complete the project.
The withdrawal of the $125,000 in impact fees will just about empty that account. The town collects on
average about $6,000 to $8,000 in recreation impact fees each month.
The new playground would have areas for children ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12.
Please e-mail the MOMS Club at
nutfieldmomsclub@yahoo.com
for further information or questions.
