Many Hands Work Together to Make Daw Playground New

The Daw Playground on Veterans Road has a new look and a community wide effort made it happen.

Residents, town officials, Winthrop DPW representatives, and Pepsi-Cola employees gathered at the playground Saturday to lay wood chips on the ground and get the area ready for its new playground equipment. A new fence will soon be installed at the site.

The Daw Playground revitalization effort began with an “Everybody Plays More” grant of $12,000 from the Gametime playground equipment company that was secured by the town. The state provided $30,000 that went toward the purchase of new equipment. The town raised $10,000 in private donations.

Pepsi-Cola selected Winthrop as one of 12 communities for its Pepsi Supports Surrounding Towns Program, a community service day.

“It was a cooperative effort,” said Council President Peter Gill, who participated in the community build on Saturday. “[Grant writer] Peter Lombardi obtained a grant and then got some neighborhood donations and Pepsi-Cola employees volunteered. It was fun to watch them put it all together and be a part of it.”

Lombardi said the playground equipment includes slides, climbing apparatus, and swing sets. He added that through the efforts of Lee Dzedulionis, chairwoman of the Winthrop Commission on Disabilities, one of the swings is available for use by physically challenged youths.