Update on Wayland's Hannah Williams Park and Playground. Work continues on rebuilding and reimagining Wayland’s Hannah Williams Park and Playground, a project that has been underway since early 2011. Department of Public Works Director Don Ouellette began talking with residents and relevant town boards in February. Then, at the April Town Meeting, residents approved $120,000 to be spent on the park’s renovations. In addition to that money, the Friends of Hannah Williams has collected about $14,000 toward the renovations and additional funds of $4,000-$5,000 have been donated.

Wayland Patch 8/12/11: DPW Board Hears Update on Hannah Williams Park. Don Ouellette, director of Wayland’s Department of Public Works, told the Board of Public Works Monday that renovations of Hannah Williams Park are moving forward and, should everything go perfectly as planned, he hoped to reopen the park around Oct. 15. At Monday’s meeting, Ouellette reported that he had received quotes for all of the playground equipment and that a group of individuals who had been working on planning the renovation, in cooperation with Wayland’s Recreation Department, had reached consensus regarding the play equipment they wanted to see installed. The equipment, Ouellette said, will cost about $100,000 including shipping and cargo. Wayland approved $120,000 to be spent on the park’s renovations at the April Town Meeting. In addition to that money, the Friends of Hannah Williams has collected about $14,000 toward the renovations and, Ouellette said Monday, additional funds of $4,000-$5,000 have been donated. Hannah Williams has been closed to the public since late May, and demolition took place in mid-June leaving a largely vacant dirt pile where a playscape once stood.

Wayland Patch 6/22/11: Hannah Williams Playscape Razed, New Park Coming Along. Where a sprawling playscape once stood, an expanse of muddy earth now resides. Wayland resident Mike Lowery ventured past Hannah Williams Park Monday morning to find the playscape completely demolished and plenty of activity at the popular neighborhood park. Already the trees approved for removal are gone, and new trees are planted along a buffer separating Main Street from the parking area.

Wayland Patch 6/11/11: Planning Board Approves Design for Hannah Williams. The Wayland Planning Board has given its approval on a complete layout and renovation plan for Hannah Williams Park and Playground. After resolving at last week’s meeting the debate about where to locate parking – it will remain in virtually the same location along Main Street – the board turned its attention to the park’s overall layout and, in particular, the park’s many trees. Town Planner Sarkis Sarkisian and Planning Board members Colleen Sheehan and Ira Montague joined Department of Public Works Director Don Oullette for a site visit on June 3. During that visit, the group reached consensus regarding which trees to keep and which to remove.

Wayland Patch 6/3/11: Hannah Williams Parking Will Remain Along Main Street. The Planning Board Monday night approved a general layout for the Hannah Williams Park and Playground redesign project, which allows the renovations of the south Wayland public space to move forward. The approved plan features parking along Main Street, much where it is now, with two entrances to the lot and one-way traffic flow. The lot will be about 40 feet wide and will include spaces for about 18 vehicles. Department of Public Works Director Don Oullette, who has headed up this project, has said from the beginning of renovation discussions that parking and traffic at Hannah Williams were major concerns of the residents with whom he spoke. Oullette was not convinced that one-way traffic was the safest option, but said he would accept the Planning Board’s recommendation.

Wayland Patch 5/27/11:  Wayland DPW Announces Closure of Hannah Williams Playground. DPW Director Don Oullette decided to close Hannah Williams Playground following a report conducted…

Wayland Patch 3/8/11: Options Presented in the Hannah Williams Revitalization Project. Discussions continued Monday night regarding the future and potential renovations of Hannah Williams Park and Playground, and meeting attendees got a glimpse of two options for the park’s new layout. The Finance Committee has included $120,000 for the park in its proposed FY12 budget, on which the town will vote during the April Town Meeting. In addition, the Friends of Hannah Williams Playground has collected $14,000 in donations that can go toward the updates.