Simsbury Culture, Parks & Recreation Opens New Playground at West Mountain Park

Last month, the Simsbury Culture, Parks & Recreation Department installed a new playground at West Mountain Park in West Simsbury. Town staff, Board of Selectmen members, members of the Culture, Parks and Recreation Commission, and local residents gathered together to celebrate the opening of the playground at a ribbon cutting ceremony on August 29, 2022.

“I want to highlight the foresight of our Town management in enhancing our budgeting practices and establishing a capital fund to address our playground needs on an ongoing basis. In a community where our recreational opportunities and parks infrastructure are among our most desirable assets, the Board of Selectmen is proud to prioritize investment in our neighborhood playgrounds,” said Selectman Chris Peterson, who serves as liaison to the Culture, Parks and Recreation Commission. “We are grateful to the staff in the Culture, Parks and Recreation Department for all of their hard work in completing this project.”

David Bush, Chairman of the Culture, Parks and Recreation Commission, added, “Simsbury’s parks and open spaces are one of the top factors contributing to this community’s exceptional quality of life. This playground will provide tremendous benefit to local families for many years to come.”  

The new playground at West Mountain Park replaces 30-year old equipment with new structures and playground surfacing. In 2018, the Board of Selectmen began a capital program to fund the replacement of playground equipment town wide. This program sets aside approximately $30,000 per year for the replacement of playscapes; upcoming playground replacements are scheduled for Simsbury Farms and Tariffville Park.