“Penultimate” is, of course, a fancy word for “next to last.” And we’re reaching out to you on the next to last day of 2022 with a simple yet urgent request.
Your fellow residents are protecting their investments in Medfield with year-end additional gifts. Could you please join them?
Your reward? More and better special things for you and your loved ones in your hometown of Medfield, like the Medfield Rail Trail, the Hinkley Helpers, the Grist Mill, the Angel Run, the Volunteer Awards, the Camp Fund, the Straw Hat Park, and all the many more Medfield Foundation initiatives that make Medfield our shared special place.
Hinkley Helpers’ Launch Survey Results Show Community Supports New Playground
Respondents provide insights on the biggest issues, hopes for a new playground
Medfield, MA, July 12, 2022 – When Hinkley Helpers first announced its mission to fundraise, plan and rebuild a fun, safe, and inclusive playground at Hinkley Park, it also launched a survey to learn more about what the community loves and hopes for a new playground. Even kids participated with one respondent commenting, “Whenever I say ‘Let’s go to the playground,’ my five-year-old daughter ALWAYS replies ‘Not Hinkley. I want to go to a different playground!’”
Condition of the decades-old playground forces the community outside of Medfield
Over the course of about thirty days, more than 300 respondents provided insightful feedback, helping to inform Hinkley Helpers’ plans, and nearly all respondents support building a new playground. With a 2.7 out of 5 satisfaction rating (which is an awful Uber driver or passenger rating!), 75% of respondents take their children to playgrounds in neighboring towns, and 60% shop (e.g. run errands, dine out, etc.) in those towns when they visit, taking business out of Medfield. In fact, one respondent noted “Compared to other playgrounds in Medfield it’s consistent. Other towns blow us away.”
Hinkley Helpers aims to resolve the community’s biggest issues and priorities
With a goal of providing a fun, safe and inclusive playground for all ages and abilities, Hinkley Helpers plans to tackle the issues and priorities voiced by survey respondents.
Biggest issues include:
For ⅔ of respondents, broken and worn elements and outdated design are the biggest issues
For ½ of the respondents, the ground covering posed an issue
Nearly ⅓ noted the playground was not accessible, inclusive or adaptable, which directly relates to the outdated structure itself and the inaccessible ground-covering
Biggest priorities include:
Nearly 80% of respondents want challenge elements appropriate for children of many ages and sizes and many commented on aging up the playground with more challenging elements for older kids (e.g. ninja warrior elements)
⅓ of respondents wanted more seating and picnic tables
½ of respondents wanted areas of shade and cover from the sun
So, what’s next? How can the community support?
From Hinkley Helpers’ research on playgrounds and their cost, the community needs to raise significant funds to address these issues and priorities. Hinkley Helpers has done extensive research on the cost of playgrounds, which you can read about here, and is now asking the community to help support this monumental initiative. There are a variety of ways to support:
Join the Community! Join the Hinkley Helpers and the Medfield community and provide a gift of any amount – $10, $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000, $5,000 – which will directly help to build a fun, safe and inclusive playground. Hinkley Helpers is an initiative of The Medfield Foundation. Please include “Hinkley Helpers” in the Designation line when you donate here.
Learn more! Email hinkleyrebuild@gmail.comto be the first to learn about updates before they are released to the public or to inquire about volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.
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About Hinkley Helpers
Founded in 2022, Hinkley Helpers, an initiative of the Medfield Foundation Inc., is driven by a mission to fundraise, plan and rebuild a safe, fun and inclusive playground at Hinkley Park. To learn more, visit www.hinkleyhelpers.com and www.facebook.com/HinkleyHelpers.
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Comments Off on Hinkley Helpers releases survey results
I started this blog to share the interesting and useful information that I saw while doing my job as a Medfield select board member. I thought that my fellow Medfield residents would also find that information interesting and useful as well. This blog is my effort to assist in creating a system to push the information out from the Town House to residents. Let me know if you have any thoughts on how it can be done better.
For information on my other job as an attorney (personal injury, civil litigation, estate planning and administration, and real estate), please feel free to contact me at 617-969-1500 or Osler.Peterson@OslerPeterson.com.