Playground is in the swing: Vernon Hill facility supported
WORCESTER (Mass.) — On hold since July, a playground planned for Glodis Field on Providence Street appears to be moving forward after a majority of people attending a community meeting expressed support last night.

But opponents of the project question the validity of a vote that was taken on the project, claiming that some of the playground’s supporters should not have been allowed to vote because they are not among those who have been affected by the relocation of the city’s leaf composting operation to the former Ballard Street landfill.

When the city relocated the composting operating from Hope Cemetery to Ballard Street last year, city officials proposed building a new playground at Glodis Field, at 239 Providence St. and adjacent to Vernon Hill School, as a “gesture to show the city’s gratitude” to residents who live near the Ballard Street landfill site.

The playground, which would serve children ages 2 to 12, is expected to cost about $300,000 and would be paid for by using capital funds from the city’s sewer enterprise account. No tax-levy money would be used.

But several residents who live near the landfill, in the vicinity of Gibbs Street, Svenson Street and Dane Avenue, have opposed the new playground. They contend the playground would not be an amenity for their neighborhood because it is not near where they live, and they would rather see the money spent on other improvements...