Medina committee eager to start planning, raising money for all-inclusive playground

MEDINA – The village will soon have a committee working on the planning and fundraising for a new all-inclusive playground at State Street Park.

The playground would serve children with and without disabilities. Mike Sidari, the village mayor for eight years, will be on the committee for the project. His term ended on march 31 and didn’t seek re-election.

He told the Village Board on Monday the committee would likely include representatives from the Medina Parks Committee or perhaps a new “Friends of State Street Park.”

There have been two proposals so far submitted for the playground, with another one expected.

Sidari said the committee will meet with the companies making proposals and try to determine the best fit for the village. Sidari said the proposals so far range from $360,000 to $500,000.

One proposal from GameTime included PowerScape playgrounds with large decks and uprights to provide strength and capacity. Other features include sensory wave seats, RoxAll See Saw, inclusive whirl, Bunny Spring Rider, four-bay swing frame, including two with a belt, two with enclosed tot, two with Zero G, one expression swing and one expression swing with a universal seat.

There would also be a freestanding sensory wave arch climber with sensors, four benches, geotextile rolls and wood fibers.

The Rochester Community Foundation told Sidari charitable foundations would likely contribute to the project. Sidari also said the Medina Rotary Club has agreed to be a pass-through for any donations locally towards the project. The Rotary Club would accept the funds and then direct them to the new playground, Sidari said.

Mayor Marguerite Sherman believes the playground will be a big draw in the community, drawing visitors too who don’t have an accessible playground in their town.

“I think it will bring in a lot of people, and will get a lot of use,” Sherman said. “People are looking for accessible areas. If you build it they will come and they will bring their families.”

Sherman attended a recent conference by the NYS Canal Corp. where state officials encouraged canal communities to make their recreational opportunities more accessible for people in wheelchairs and with other disabilities.

Sidari said there are many disabled veterans who would welcome an accessible playground so they could be with their children.

In other action at Monday’s Village Board meeting:

•  The board set 6 p.m. Thursday at the Senior Center for a final vote on the village’s budget for 2024-25. There will be a workshop on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. to further scrutinize the budget.

“We are putting a lot of time and thought into it,” Sherman said.

• The board voted to seek a $50,000 state engineering planning grant for the development of an engineering report to identify sources of inflow and infiltration. The village’s share is $10,000.

• Appointed Bill Chmylak as a Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator.

• Approved a permit for Leonard Oakes Estate Winery to sell alcohol at up to seven blues concerts this summer at State Street Park.

“I was skeptical about alcohol in the parks, but it is very well laid out,” Sherman said about the layout at the concerts, which drew up to 800 people. “It’s just wonderful for our community.”