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The park is one of 26 under development through a project called Sandy Ground: Where Angels Play. The New Jersey State Firefighters’ Mutual Benevolent Association (NJFMBA) started to plan the project after Hurricane Sandy. The initial idea was to build playgrounds in towns in New Jersey, New York and Connecticut that saw heavy damage during the storm.
After the Newtown shooting, the group decided to build 26 playgrounds: one in honor of each student and teacher who died in Sandy Hook School. Two parks in New Jersey are already open, and others are planned for Westport, Stratford, Ansonia, Mystic and other towns in the tri-state area.
The victims’ families are involved in the planning process for each location, so each playground reflects the personalities and interests of its namesake. The Rekos family chose Fairfield to host the playground in Jessica’s honor in part because her mother, Krista, graduated from Fairfield University. The university and the Fairfield firefighters’ union will also help with the project.
“We believe this to be a blessed project providing a symbol of hope and recovery for both the family and the community,” NJFMBA president William Lavin said in a letter to Fairfield’s Parks and Recreation Commission.
The exact location of the Fairfield playground is not official, but the Fairfield Parks and Recreation Commission is considering a spot on Penfield Beach to replace the old swingsets currently there. The commission and the NJFMBA is looking for input from Fairfield residents about the idea.
The Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a public hearing for residents to share their thoughts on June 5 at 7 p.m. at Jacky Durrell Pavilion on Penfield Beach, 401 Fairfield Beach Road.
All 26 playgrounds will be built using private donations. To contribute to the project, visit the Sandy Ground website.
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