A few parks in Sleepy Hollow are under construction this summer, preparing to be opened and improved by fall.

The W.L. Morse School playground additions and area beautification will provide a safe play area for incoming first graders, as well as create a more welcoming downtown park for residents.

The Douglas Park upgrade will include the installation of several new pieces as part of a "natural" playground and will have separate areas appropriate for children ages two through 12.

Douglas Park

The scenic Douglas Park in Sleepy Hollow's Webber Park neighorhood is making strides towards a new playground.

The former play structure has been removed to make room for a larger playground with several parts.

The Friends of Douglas Park and the Webber Park Association have been working with the village on the project, which has commissioned company Follow the Child to create a minimalist playground that encourages kids to take advantage of the park's natural landscape; an idea residents have been adamant about for some time.

According to the Follow the Child website, they "...design playscapes that provide safe opportunities for children to explore and learn about natural elements and test their physical abilities."

Village administrator Anthony Giaccio, village architect Sean McCarthy and DPW general foreman Richard Gross worked with Follow the Child to finalize the playground's designs and formulate cost estimates.

The final plan was announced at the last Board of Trustees meeting.

The new playground elements will all be made of non-toxic materials and surrounding areas will comprise of wood chips. Highlights of the new playground include a large 16-foot slide, a playground appropriate for children ages two to five and another two-piece playground appropriate for children ages five to 12.

A dead tree trunk already in place will be secured to allow for safe climbing. More wooden stumps will be added to the area as well.

The smaller play structure will be constructed adjacent to seven new benches, made of tree stumps and wood platforms. Nearby, a "stepping log fort" will be comprised of secured stumps in a spiral shape.

A labyrinth will be constructed, guided by rocks and stones and grass walkways.

The current swing set will remain in place, though it will be leveled and surrounding with sand. The rubber guard surrounding the swing set, however, will be removed. The tire swing currently in place at Douglas Park will be removed and taken to DeVries Park by the village's Department of Public Works.

According to Rachel Hansen of the Webber Park Association and Friends of Douglas Park, construction will begin once Follow the Child completes the pieces for the playground.

Further, the current picnic tables will be refurbished and moved to a new area of the park to make room for the playground structures.

Other changes include the addition of stones and boulders to the current terrace slope and new wooden and stone bridges, platforms and steps.

Hansen, who has served as a liaison between the organizations and village throughout the plannning process, has two children, ages three and six. She said they are excited about the new playground, and one piece in particular.

"The slide is going to be a hot spot for them," she said, adding they enjoy the slide installed in Neperan Park.

The playground is expected to be complete by early fall and a ribbon-cutting ceremony will commemorate the opening.

Morse Playground

The Morse playground renovations are well underway. The improved setup will serve dual purposes: creating an age-appropriate play area for incoming first graders in the fall; and beautifying Sleepy Hollow's downtown Beekman Avenue area, inviting community members to spend more time in the park.

The TUFSD Board of Education, the Village of Sleepy Hollow and the Sleepy Hollow Downtown Revitalization Corporation have combined forces to provide the funds and workforce needed to complete the project in time for the first day of school this fall.

While the current playground remains open, efforts in the former lower parking lot of the school are underway.

Last Wednesday, workers began to install the new soft surface play area for younger students. The new material is covering the former lower parking lot's cement area. Additionally, the surrounding area is being converted into a softer, dirt-based surface. The soft surface area is nearly complete as of Saturday.

A new playground set has been placed in the lower area of the grounds, apart from the current playground. This smaller set is intended for younger incoming students to enjoy.

According to district superintendent Howard Smith, the new playground is scheduled to be up and running by the start of the school year.