Residents hope to update Hamlin Park
Topic discussed Sept. 21

Nicole Sercu, who grew up playing on the playgrounds in Hamlin, approached Town of Hamlin officials with the idea of getting a group of concerned citizens together to work on playground improvements.

"I was pleased when Nicole came in and wanted to get this effort underway," Town Supervisor Denny Roach said, adding that Sercu worked as a day camp counselor in the town's summer programs. "She is a local who has taken a keen interest in the playgrounds for our children."

Sercu has scheduled a meeting for Thursday, September 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Hall Gym to "gather all generations" to become involved in the planning and fundraising that will be necessary to fix the Hamlin playground.

"We're looking to brainstorm and come up with ideas that would help the playground," she said. "It's current condition is unacceptable and unsafe for our community."

With the town's small operating budget for such improvements, Roach said any mutually beneficial arrangement would be welcome. "We don't always have the funds to accomplish everything we want, or need, and having Nicole's interest and enthusiasm and pulling together the efforts of a playground committee as well as a group of individuals who are interested in setting up a skateboard park in part of the park could help us accomplish a great deal," Roach said.

There is money in the budget for the installation of new mulch at the playground and the town recently installed new playground equipment in Huntington Park, which Roach said was vandalized not long after its installation.

"We're hoping we will be able to identify and obtain grants to accomplish some of the things necessary to revamp the park," Roach said.

Contact Sercu at HelpHamlinKids@yahoo.com for information. The meeting is open to all residents.

September 17, 2006