Ellsworth & Son Excavating In The News

Kensington Road School's new 'natural' playground is coming along

By JOHN COLEMAN | The Post-Star | Posted: Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Ruben Ellsworth, owner of Ellsworth & Son Excavating and Jenkinsville Sand & Gravel, works on shaping dirt mounds at Kensington Road School in Glens Falls on Saturday, Aug. 21.

GLENS FALLS -- Mounds of mulch and dirt at Kensington Road School playground have made fun obstacles for neighborhood children this summer, but the fun will have to come to an end soon.

The mulch mounds will eventually be raked out and dirt mounds shaped and covered in sod to form the Kensington Cove Natural Playground - one of a few natural playgrounds in the state, featuring embankment slides, a labyrinth and amphitheater among other elements.

Relying 100 percent on donations from the community and no tax dollars, the project's progress has been dependent on volunteer participation as well as weather.

However, Rachelle Gormely, who co-chairs the school's Kensington Cove playground committee, said the goal wasn't to complete the project by the time students returned.

"Basically we have no deadline. Our goal is to lay sod and hydroseed to the best quality possible," Gormley said. "As soon as that's ready to be mowed, we would allow kids on it. So our goal is not to be done by the time school starts, it's to do a great job."

She said Oct. 1 would be a "realistic" time when the playground would be completed to the point of allowing children on the mounds.

Gormley said work was delayed as excavators had to wait on soil test results, which Gormely said "passed with flying colors."

A good deal of progress was made over the weekend however, according to playground committee member Michael Borgos. He said about 100 yards of mulch was moved around existing climber, ship and swings by volunteer families. He also noted that Ruben Ellsworth, owner of Ellsworth & Son Excavating and Jenkinsville Sand & Gravel, was once again on site, volunteering his time to shape the dirt piles with an excavator. Ellsworth donated all the fill for the project, 1,850 cubic yards, according to Borgos.

Gormley said irrigation work remains to be done as well as installing a sprinkler system. Other features such as outdoor musical instruments and benches can be added over time, she said. She said about 20 families have been involved in everything from building a website (www.kensingtoncove.com) to spreading stone dust on the perimeter path.

In addition, many area businesses have donated materials to the effort, including Paul Daigle Construction, Galusha & Sons, Walter Stevenson, Barton Mines, Van Dusen & Steves Land Surveyors and others.

"Our goal is to not put a financial burden on the district," Gormley said.

Gormley said a committee has been looking into improving the playground for about two years. After weighing costs, safety and wheelchair accessibility of different options, the committee settled on Natural Playgrounds Co. of Concord, N.H. She said the group based its decision on research that found natural playgrounds encourage children to use their imagination and promote passive learning.

"Its supposed to promote more creative play," Gormley said. "It's more about what they can achieve personally not what they can do better than somebody else."

Borgos said the playground committee is seeking donations of money to purchase materials, trees, and various play elements. Alumni, neighbors, friends and supporters are encouraged to mail or drop off monetary donations payable to "KRS PTA" (memo "Playground") care of : Mrs. Jennifer Hayes, Principal, Kensington Road School, 43 Kensington Road, Glens Falls, NY 12801.

For more information on how to donate to the Kensington Cove Playground project, contact Rachelle Gormley at 796-4895 or visit www.kensingtoncove.com.