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2025 has been a rough year for the SMILE playground at Haskell Field. A long-delayed project to repair the poured rubber surface resulted in the removal of shade trees and a play structure, but without enough budget remaining to replace any equipment or add shade structures. Resident outcry led to a prompt submission for Community Preservation Act funding to add shade and additional accessible play structures.
While that application is working its way through the Community Preservation Committee’s vetting process, the Town has announced that portions of the new poured rubber surface fall short of safety standards and have been roped off. “Recent review determined that these areas do not currently meet required safety standards for fall protection.”
In a bit of good news, the contractor has taken responsibility for the surface. The Town announcement added “The contractor has accepted responsibility for the repairs, which will be completed under warranty once weather conditions allow for proper installation. The Town anticipates that repairs will occur in the spring, with the goal of reopening the affected areas as soon as work is completed and safety standards are met.”
The poured surface needs to be installed during specific weather conditions in order to perform as expected, and the ground needs to be meticulously prepared ahead of installation. Sudbury has seen similar issues with new poured playground surfaces in recent years. In 2024, the entire Israel Loring Elementary School Playground was closed and the brand-new surface was also replaced under warranty.
If supported by the Community Preservation Committee in the coming weeks, residents will have an opportunity to vote on adding play structures and other enhancements to the SMILE playground at Annual Town Meeting in May — right around the time that the Town anticipates warranty repairs to be made to the current poured surface. However, installation of any new equipment approved at Town Meeting is expected to happen later in 2026.