Community Corner

Wilton YMCA Imagination Village Faces Damage, Misuse

Although the Wilton YMCA set up its new Imagination Village just about two weeks ago, the playground has already been facing misuse and damage.

The space, a fenced-in area filled with plastic houses and kitchen sets, cost the YMCA about $500 – many of the larger items were donated, saving the organization potentially hundreds of dollars.

Imagination Village was built for kids ages 3-5, and though camp director Aaron Britton said he's glad to see the area getting use, he added that it's "frustrating" to see the fence in particular get bent and damaged.

"We've been in a constant state of cleaning it up so we can use it," Britton said. "We've been finding it's not staffed, it's not in a visible area in the front of the building, and so it's become kind of a free-for-all, it feels, back there."

Britton sent out an email June 14 to the Wilton YMCA membership list, asking members to "make sure that all children who use Imagination Village at the Y are supervised and using it in a respectful manner."

Britton said the YMCA is not considering taking down the playground yet because summer camps begin June 24 and the area was partially put together for use during camp.

"If the kids like it, it's worth doing," Britton said. "It's how they're using it (now) that bothers me."

Despite the trash can within the fence, garbage is spread across the ground of the playground, and houses have been moved to opposite sides of the spots where they were originally tied down, Britton said.

He expects camp to help keep the area cleaner, however, because there will be a staff member supervising play in Imagination Village during camp hours.

"I'm nervous even still about the evening times once camp is done," Britton said. "But I do want to kind of see how it goes."


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