New playground just the start of long-term improvements at Prescott Park

MEREDITH — Eight-year-old Eli Brick took full advantage of the jungle gym, slides and other features of the brand new playground at Prescott Park on Thursday afternoon. And he wasn't the only one. The space has been a hot commodity since its opening less than two weeks ago.

“He was really excited to come over and play,” said Tami Jaquith, Brick’s cousin, who brought him over from nearby Ashland. “It’s nice to see a playground come back to this park.”

It was the first time at the playground for Brick, who said he was loving the slide and cargo nets. Other children were there enjoying the swings with their families — five years in the making, and the start of something huge at Prescott Park.

Parks and Recreation Director Krystal Alpers praised her predecessor, Vint Choiniere, for getting the ball rolling, and doing the majority of the legwork before he retired.

“I give Vint kudos in what he did to get this project to where it was when I got here,” Alpers said. “He did a good job executing and making it happen. He can take all that credit.”

Choiniere approached the selectboard, in 2021, about a warrant article to raise $150,000 to start the process, which was approved by voters. Alpers said he then worked on funding sources, and got a commitment from a fund designated toward parks improvements.

Friends of Meredith Parks and Recreation then committed to raising and donating $50,000, for a full price tag of $337,000 to build the playground.

“The rest of the money was coming from either the fund, or an expendable trust fund that Parks & Rec has, as well,” Alpers said.

The town worked with M.E. O’Brien and Sons on a design. The company is based in Medway, Massachusetts, and has nearly 100 years of experience supplying and designing playgrounds.

In April 2024, there was a conversation at the selectboard meeting to postpone installation of the playground.

“At that point, they were working to engage with a company to come up with a renovation design for all of Prescott Park,” Alpers said. “They didn’t want them to put in the playground if the master plan came back and it wasn’t in the right place.”

Instead, the project was delayed until the committee got a more exact site plan. The town put a deposit of $150,000 down in October 2024, to lock in the price. Fast forward to September 2025, and the playground layout design was incorporated into the master plan, which was approved.

Meredith-based construction company Ambrose Bros., Inc. broke ground in April 2026. Alpers said they did all the site work, and a large portion of that was donated.

“We did have to pay a little, but the amount donated was significant,” Alpers said.

The site was prepared at the beginning of April, and M.E. O'Brien and Sons moved in after for the installation. Alpers said that the town purchased the equipment from them, and they had an outside contractor perform the installation at the end of May.

Alpers said the contractor moved out at the beginning of July, then Ambrose Bros. returned to tend to weeds growing on the outskirts, and hydroseed the area for grass. The area is now fenced off as the grass seed grows. The playground formally opened July 13.

Alpers said the playground is completely accessible. Part of the playground has woodchips, but the rest is accessible with poured rubber, good for someone using a wheelchair to play on.

The playground has its typical amenities including swings, balance beams, slides, and a new, accessible version of a merry-go-round.

“Everyone has been enthusiastic about it,” Alpers said. “It’s being highly used, and we’re full swing with summer camp, so the kiddos were excited to be the first ones out there."

Hours are 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

The Meredith Selectboard will be discussing funding options for the playground on Monday. In a memo in the agenda packet, Alpers said after the article to raise $150,000 was approved at 2021 Town Meeting, the selectboard approved an additional $150,820 from the William Andrews Fund to support the project in early planning stages. It was noted $50,000 came from the Friends of Meredith Parks and Recreation.

When those funds were approved, the location hadn’t been finalized. Discussions with the Prescott Park Committee and Ironwood Design team hadn’t taken place yet, and the scope of the required site work and costs weren't known. The project progressed, and additional site-related expenses arose, to make sure it was safe and accessible.

The project has been funded, to date, through the $150,000 from the 2021 Warrant article and $77,570 from the William Andrews Fund money. Friends of Meredith Parks and Recreation has committed $50,000 and payment is forthcoming. This brings total project funding to $277,570.

The town has $110,090 in invoices that need to be paid. Alpers listed four options, and recommended Option 2, which would be to use $96,343 from the Parks and Recreation ETF, as well as stock-generated revenue amounting to $13,737 of previously approved money from William Andrews Fund.

Future plans

Alpers said this starts a “bigger grandioso plan” that will be presented to the selectboard Aug. 24. Prescott Park Committee Chair Dan Curnyn agreed, calling it a “massive” project, and while they didn’t disclose an estimated dollar amount, it will be in the millions.

The Prescott Park Committee will attend, and Jeff Hyland of Ironwood Design Group will go over the plans. These include plans for pickleball and basketball courts, upgraded fields and fencing, resurfacing tennis courts, additional parking, and a roundabout area to keep traffic flow moving, and renovating buildings.

“Ironwood has put all that together, and will be presenting at the selectboard meeting,” Alpers said.

Curnyn leads the 15-member committee, which is a combination of town employees, elected leaders, stakeholders, and community members. Alpers said Curnyn has been a great leader, as he runs the baseball league and coaches at Inter-Lakes Middle High School, and serves as great representation for recreational uses of the area.

“This playground is obviously a huge contribution, and one of the largest pieces of the beginning of this Prescott Park puzzle,” Curnyn said. “It’s been a long time coming, but you drive by Prescott, regardless of the time, and someone is using it.”

Curnyn said getting this portion in place was huge, and the next steps could take some convincing, negotiation and tinkering with the price tag. It will also likely be phased. The committee has about a month before the meeting to figure out logistics.

“It will probably be a lengthy process,” Curnyn said.

Curnyn said a lot of work needs to be done in the area, and the only things staying are the playground, the skate park, and the buildings. He said the lower part of the park is “really old,” and the fields need to be brought up to safer standards.

Drainage was one of the top issues brought up by public input, and he said the parking lots will be graded so water won't pool when it rains. He also stressed there will be better walking accessibility from the upper to lower parts of the park when the project is completed.

Curnyn said like in the movie "Field of Dreams," “if you build it, they will come.”

“We want people to come and use our facilities,” Curnyn said. “Ideally, we are just trying to have the new Prescott Park be a nice space that is accessible and safe. That is the final realistic goal.”