Wilmer Park is situated on the Chester River in the historic small town of Chestertown, Maryland. The close-knit community in Kent County is known by its slogan, “small town, big heart.” It is also known for its green space and for having many ways to connect to nature. When the town decided to update Wilmer Park, they had several goals in mind. According to Kees de Mooy, Zoning Administrator for the Town of Chestertown, they hoped to, “provide exciting, ADA-accessible, age-appropriate play equipment for local children that blended seamlessly into an existing waterfront park.”
With water views from the playground, it is easy to see how the nautical theme and color scheme, to include the pour-in-place rubber surfacing have brought that vision to life! The playground was laid out, mindful of age-appropriateness, with areas dedicated to ages 2-5 and ages 5-12. In between the two play structures are a group of swings including a Konnection® swing, designed for that special bond between parent and child. To ensure there are play opportunities for children of all abilities, the playground also includes a Volito swing, PlayEnsemble® musical instruments, and many engaging ground-level activities.
Choosing the design, and the play elements that would be included, was not just left up to town officials. According to de Mooy, the Chestertown Recreation Commission “received hundreds of design ideas through an online poll of the community.” The key elements requested then became part of the solicitation package for potential vendors. Ultimately, All Recreation’s design was selected by a large majority of the over 900 votes cast.
The result is a beautiful site with an eye-catching design and tons of play value. De Mooy concluded that, “All Recreation’s installation team did a phenomenal job dealing with less-than-ideal weather and site conditions and the results speak for themselves. Kids – and their parents – have been swarming all over the Wilmer Park playground since the project was completed. Chestertown’s premier waterfront park finally has what parents have been asking for: a family fun playground that provides endless entertainment for children.”