by Audrey Anderson
Hometown Weekly Reporter
On September 15, from 12 pm to 2 pm, the Hinkley Helpers and the Medfield Parks & Recreation Department will celebrate the official grand opening of the updated, “safe, fun and inclusive playground” at the Steven Hinkley Memorial Park on Green St. There will be food, activities, music, and fun for everyone! Whether you have kids to take to the playground or not, you will want to see and experience the amazing options available for play there.
The new playground is already in use. A brick walkway leads to the playground from the parking lot. It includes dedicated bricks purchased by donors in support of the Hinkley Helpers’ fundraising efforts for the playground update. As parent Ali Kennavane noted, she was glad to see that bricks from the previous walkway were retained in the playground. She was surprised to see that her family’s brick, donated by her parents when she was young, was part of the new walkway. Even the Lord’s Department Store brick is there, keeping Medfield history alive.
Built by Childscapes, a New England Representative for Burke, the new playground sits in a pleasant, shady grove at the front of the park. There is a springy, soft surface under the whole area. Kids can choose from several types of play structures for all ages and abilities. There are musical, climbing, sliding, digging, ziplining, swinging, and rotating options, among others, to explore. As John Meuthing pushed his son Will along the zipline apparatus, he said, “The kids were excited to come to the playground three days in a row. They love it here.” While happy kids tried out the new playground equipment, family groups sat at tables and comfortable benches to watch their kids play.
The Hinkley Helpers, an initiative of the Medfield Foundation, Inc., received donations and held events to raise the money needed to update the playground. In 2022, they held a Hops-for-Hinkley silent auction. They organized the Buy-a-Brick program for the new walkway. They also worked with donors and Platinum and Gold sponsors Park Street Books & Toys, the Medfield Foundation, Inc., Blue-O-Moon, Needham Bank, Roche Bros., Team Alina, and The Polers. Come down and celebrate the grand opening on September 15 and enjoy this beautiful, accessible new playground.
