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11/06/2009
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Staff photo by David Leamingfrom the Kennebec Journal
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A large, overdue fuel bill and fewer people patronizing the facility are among the reasons playground officials cited for closing.
"Our last day to play is Nov. 25," said Melanie Pellerin, president of the playground's board of directors. "Our intention is to be completely out of the building by the 30th."
The playground is a nonprofit organization at 5 Appleton St. in a building owned by the St. Joseph Maronite Catholic Church. The playground rents from the church.
Pellerin said the playground's fuel debt from last year is about $6,000, and there are no funds with which to pay it. So the facility is shutting down.
"We need to get the word out to the public, because at this point, there isn't anything left that we can do," Pellerin said. "At this point we've resigned ourselves that it is the end of our tenure."
The playground was founded in 1993 by John Salvato, a pediatrician, and Susan Childs, a family physician, on the fourth floor of The Center downtown. Two years ago, it moved to Appleton Street, where Pellerin said its bare bones annual operating budget is about $35,000.
The playground employs three very part-time workers and survives mostly on donations, grants, fees and birthday parties, she said.
"You really need more corporate-type sponsors and more grants, and those are very difficult things to get when you know you're running on a bare minimum to begin with," Pellerin said.
She said the clientele rotates about every five years as children grow up. In past years, the playground served around 100 children a day but now, only about 30 children come to the facility, which is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., five days a week.
Liz Ward has been patronizing the playground for two years and says there isn't another place in the area where you can just drop in with your children and play. She has two children, who are 2 and 4.
Ward said the playground provides a unique place for children to engage in imaginative play. Climbing structures, dolls, a kitchen set and restaurant-type equipment are among the features at the facility. A music class also is offered.
"It's a good resource for parents to go and meet up with other parents who have children of the same age," she said.
An educational psychologist, Ward said the playground also is a resource for children who need to work on how to play with other children. Children with autism also benefit from the playground, which has a room of sensory toys.
"It's been a good therapy resource as well, and there really isn't any other place you can send children to," she said.
Wendi Richards works at the playground eight hours a week, volunteers there and runs a grant for the facility.
She also brings her children there. Richards says parents will have a difficult time finding places to take their children after the playground closes.
"A lot of kids will just have to stay inside, and they won't get a chance to socialize as much," he said.
She said if another such facility opens, it would need sponsors, funding and adequate staff to write grants. Grants are available for organizations wanting to fight obesity and promote health through exercise, she said.
"It's too late for us to get in on that. My hope is that another organization will take the idea of the Inside Out Playground and build their own and, hopefully, realize there are organizations that will use it."
She said she is sad to see the playground close, but hopes something will emerge to replace it.
"I can only imagine if it were done again and they could learn from mistakes and had a budget and a grant writer and the ability to support it, that it would thrive."
Playground officials will hold a sale of decorations, equipment and other items from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at the facility.
Amy Calder -- 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com
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