Fox Hill Playground Debate Resurfaces, but Project Moves Forward
A year-old vendor decision sparked fresh debate Monday — but the Fox Hill building project is staying on track.
The question of which vendor will supply Fox Hill Elementary School’s new playground came up again at Tuesday's School Building Committee meeting, more than a year after the committee voted 7-3 to select ME O'Brien (Landscape Structures) over Childscapes (Burke) — and, after each School Committee member had their say, the decision appears closed out for good.
The conversation over playground vendors goes back nearly 18 months and recently resurfaced when Building Committee chair Melissa Massardo declined to revisit the topic despite requests from members Christine Monaco, Katherine Bond, and Meghan Nawoichik for an update and discussion on the process.
Several committee members used the Oct. 20, 2026, meeting to voice lingering concerns about the process. The site design subcommittee, which was specifically established to evaluate outdoor design elements, was never consulted, said Bond, Nawoichik, and Monaco. In addition, Nawoichik said, the Landscape Structures equipment has a 12-foot fall height and lacks IPEMA certification (an outside group charged with rating playground safety), raising safety questions.
Other members were less sympathetic. “We've belabored this point yet again,” said Jeremy Brooks. "Can we please move on?" Massardo noted the design had evolved through multiple rounds of committee feedback before the September 2025 vote. Building Committee member Martha Simon said revisiting the conversation amounted to micromanaging. And, parent and town meeting member Michelle Huntoon, who attended virtually, echoed the sentiment, expressing concern that relitigating settled decisions could delay the overall project.
"My goal is to ensure that we provide our students with a high quality, safe, and durable playground that will serve them well for years to come," said Bond. "I have no preference for any particular vendor. My concern has always been whether we follow a thorough and transparent process before making a decision involving more than $600,000."
The committee is moving forward with Landscape Structures. Next steps include a color and design selection meeting with school staff — a process that typically takes one to two months — followed by a final quote and purchase order.
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Nicci Kadilak
