Standish-area school district installs new playgrounds after safety concerns
Maine School Administrative District 6 to Reinstall Playgrounds After Safety Review
Maine School Administrative District 6 (MSAD 6), which serves Standish, Buxton, Hollis, Limington and Frye Island, will have new playgrounds installed at five of its six elementary schools by early November. The project follows a spring inspection that identified “significant safety concerns” at the former equipment, including exposed rust and loose nails.
Superintendent Brian Campbell told the district’s board in August that the new playgrounds, ordered from Massachusetts‑based O’Brien & Sons, will look much like the originals but will feature modular pieces that can be swapped out rather than requiring a full replacement when they wear out. “We do need to provide good playground equipment so that kids can have some fun and get that energy out of them,” said Linda Fuller, a Standish resident, during a board meeting.
Capital Reserve Funding and Installation Timeline
The board approved a $250,000 allocation from its capital reserves in August to cover the new equipment. Facilities staff are expected to begin the installation next week, with completion targeted for early November. The vendor has supplied renderings of the upcoming structures for George E. Jack School, Steep Falls Elementary, and Edna Libby Elementary, all of which had their former playgrounds removed after the safety review.
Teachers Keep Students Active in the Interim
While the new playgrounds are being installed, teachers have adapted to keep students moving. Superintendent Campbell explained that staff are running games of four‑square and organizing large walking groups, even offering raffle tickets for students who walk extra miles around school buildings. “We’re doing what we can to keep kids active,” he said.
Planning for Inclusive Play
In addition to the standard equipment, a committee headed by parent and homeschooling mother Amanda Martin is exploring funding for playground features that accommodate children with disabilities. Martin, whose kindergarten‑aged son has autism, noted that the only other option for her daughter was to attend Buxton Center Elementary School, which is farther from Standish but still has a playground. “These playgrounds are more than just from bell to bell. They’re actually a shared public resource, and people are using them at all ages and all abilities,” she said at the October 5 board meeting. “Movement is critical to building brains and neurons.”
Martin’s team is seeking pieces from O’Brien & Sons that could include game panels, ramps, and a wheelchair‑friendly swing. She estimates the cost of these additional items to be between $50,000 and $80,000. Potential sponsors include Poland Spring, a Maine‑based bottled‑water company that has expressed interest in supporting the inclusive equipment once specific proposals are received. The team is also applying for the American Academy of Dermatology’s Shade Structure Grant Program, which can provide up to $8,000 for permanent shade installations.
Community Voices on Inclusion
At the October 5 meeting, Pollywogs to Speckled Frogs owner and Republican candidate for Maine House District 85, Adrienne Paul, urged the board to incorporate inclusion from the outset. “Children need meaningful opportunities to play alongside their peers,” she said.
Campbell emphasized that any additional equipment must undergo a facilities inspection to ensure compliance with safety codes before installation. “We’re asking the board to ensure that inclusion is part of the design from the beginning,” he reiterated.
Next Steps
The district will begin installing the new playgrounds next week, with a goal of having all five schools equipped by early November. In the meantime, teachers are maintaining activity levels through games and walking challenges, while the board and community members work to secure funding and design inclusive features that will benefit all students.
