Westport’s New Annex Playground Projected to be Finished by June

The playground near the Annex Building on Main Road in Westport has been standing there for 30 years and it’s time for a serious upgrade.

The Westport Recreation Department announced it will install a new, modern playground, and families can expect the project to be completed by this summer.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Westport Recreation Director Dana Stewart said. “The old Annex Playground has been well-loved and used by many town residents over the years, but it is time to replace it due to its age and old design.”

Annex Playground in Westport to Get Serious Upgrade

Stewart harps on the importance of having an Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant playground that meets all safety standards and believes this new playground in Central Village will increase economic growth, promote healthy play and exercise for kids, and improve the overall connectivity of the community.

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The Recreation Department applied for funds through the town’s Community Preservation Commission and was awarded $350,000 in May of last year. The funds will be used toward the new Annex Playground and to update the Bicentennial Playground on Gifford Road.

Stewart said she was thrilled with the funds but was soon blown away by the generosity of an anonymous foundation that decided to help the project.

The foundation heard about the projects, invited the town to present plans, and ultimately approved the “Playground Improvement Project” for a grant of $500,000.

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“We were overjoyed with this amazing news, and so grateful for the generosity of this anonymous foundation,” Stewart said. “With this grant, along with half of the Community Preservation Commission funds, we are able to install a brand-new, modern playground at the Annex in the spring of 2024. We hope to have a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for the new playground in June 2024.”

What to Expect at the New Playground

The Annex playground will have a nautical theme, a nod to coastal Westport's history, and be in colors blue, grey, tan and white. Kids can climb on a large whale and enjoy five slides of varying heights, multiple swings, and many sensory panels. There will be several climbing features, an inclusive see-saw, a whirl spinner and deck levels with a ramp to make it handicapped-accessible.

“A lot of time and attention went into the details of this playground, and we hope that the Westport community, and any visitors to our town, enjoy this playground for years to come,” Stewart said.

Westport Recreation provided an update on the new playground on Thursday, stating the installation is now estimated to happen in mid-June.

“Demo/prep of the land may happen end of May or early June,” the committee said. “We are looking forward to a brand-new playground and we hope you are, too.”