Generosity Rises From The Playground’s Ashes

By Tanjua Damon

There is not much left of the Treadwell Park playground equipment that volunteers installed Sunday, October 22. Some blue plastic is still visible, but most is blackened from the blaze that ruined the playground late last Wednesday night. But within a week the community has come together to raise over $31,000 to rebuild the playground.

Employees in the office of orthodontist Dr Henry Gellert decided last Friday to give up their office Christmas party, and some their Christmas bonus, to donate money to rebuild the playground. When Dr Gellert heard his staff wanted to do this he matched their donation and so did Curtiss & Crandon Realtors, giving a $3,000 donation on Friday to Tammy Marks, who has been heading the fundraising efforts over the past two years.

Joanne Shpunt of Dr Gellert’s office felt that it was terrible what had happened to the equipment and that it was the right thing to do to offer a donation.

“All of us work on committees,” she said. “It really crushes us. We know Tammy worked hard.”

Ann Marie Deweese of Dr Gellert’s office hoped that other businesses and community members will come together to offer their support as well.

“Dr Gellert is so community oriented,” she said. “There’s no way he could not help out on this.”

Dr Gellert was on Star 99.9, a radio station, challenging other businesses to support the rebuilding of the Treadwell Park playground, according to Mrs Deweese.

WICC radio station has also given $3,000 to help in the efforts to rebuild the playground through their Holiday Children’s Fund, according to Tammy Marks.

“Our first instinct was not to [rebuild],” Mrs Marks said. “But if we don’t do it the person who vandalized wins.”

According to Mrs Marks, Ron Moffat of the Parks & Rec department made sure all the screws were tight on the equipment the day before the fire started and then next day when he came in it was gone.

 “A lot of tears were shed yesterday [Thursday, October 26], tears of sorrow,” Mrs Marks said. “People in the community have come together to make this a positive thing. They haven’t won. We’re going to fight back. Whoever did this, I hope they live with this the rest of their lives with what they have taken away from the community.”

SMT, LLC, an electronics manufacturing company in Monroe, donated $15,000 to the cause. Tom Sharpe, a Newtown resident and co-owner of SMT, said it was a terrible act and felt his company could help out.

“We’re residents of Newtown. We’re concerned with the fact there isn’t enough stuff in the town as it is,” he said. “It’s just such a shame that someone would do this. We’ve had a good year and thought it would be nice to put something towards the playground.”

The Danbury-based company Diversified Waste Disposal donated $10,000 to the playground.

“My boss has children. He lives in New Fairfield. He knows what it means when a town and community take all this effort to build something,” General Manager Dave Dunleavy said.

Siblings Spencer, 6, and Madison, 4, Erhardt decided to donate what money they had collected in their piggy banks to the playground. Spencer said he was saving for anther Game Boy cartridge, while Madison was saving for a white horse.

“[We want to help] get the playground back,” Madison said. “I gave up all my horse money.”

The children donated $52. Their mother, Lynne, said Spencer saw the news and heard about the playground. They went to get a copy of The Bee to read more about the incident.

“Spencer was initially the one who thought of it, and Madison always follows close behind,” Mrs Erhardt said. “You try to teach your children right from wrong. When they come up with this without prompting or outside influence is icing on the cake.”

The Treadwell Park Playground committee has been fundraising for over two years to raise funding for two playgrounds at Treadwell Park. The cost of both playgrounds is $87,000 and $90,000. A Casino Night is being held on November 11 at the Fireside Inn starting at 6:30 pm to continue to raise funds so both playgrounds can be a reality for Newtown residents.

Anyone wishing to donate to the playground may call Tammy Marks at 426-5333 or send a check to Newtown Savings Bank, Treadwell Park Playground Fund, 39 Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470.