Photo Credit: The Saratogian
“The town of Wilton takes great pride in providing new and innovative recreation opportunities for our residents. It is enjoyed by children of various ages and has elements designed for children with physical challenges.”
--Art Johnson, Town Supervisor
Even a good idea sometimes takes time to become reality. In the town of Wilton, N.Y., about 30 miles north of Albany, the concept of adding a splash park to Gavin Park was first discussed in 2006. The LA Group, a landscape architecture and engineering firm, was then collaborating with the recreation department and town board on the preparation of a master plan for the well-known park. That master plan did not include a splash park. As the town continued to upgrade recreational programs and facilities over the next several years, the idea of a splash park gained momentum and worked its way up the list of park priorities.
Getting Their Feet Wet
In 2012, then Recreation Director Stephen Porto engaged The LA Group to focus on the playground area and complete a master plan for its expansion. This effort resulted in showing the size and location of a splash park for the first time. This effort included Porto researching vendors that participated in—and were pre-approved through—co-operative purchasing programs. The co-operative purchase approach assisted the town with timing and fixing prices for the improvements. Town leaders and staff members participated in researching, budgeting, and confirming this procurement process.