Playground Celebration!
Join us for a celebration of the completion of the playground!
Saturday, October 25, 2025
11:00 AM
Yerxa Road side
This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served, and we will have a pumpkin decorating activity and face painting. If you would like, you are invited to preview your Halloween costume!
In the event of inclement weather, this celebration will be postponed.
Playground Opening Soon!
The Peabody School Playground will be opening for use on Tuesday, September 2! The new play areas include a younger children's area with a play mound, swings, and an inclusive carousel. The older children's area includes group and individual swings, and a new climbing and slide structure. Both areas include new seating and gathering areas. The open area to the south of the building includes a Bankshot Basketball setup, a different spin on basketball that features a series of creative, challenging hoops to aim for--think basketball meets mini-golf!
Note: due to a manufacturer error, one portion of the large play structure will remain closed. The railing height around a platform is slightly lower than recommended. This portion of the structure will be isolated while this issue is resolved with the manufacturer; however, the majority of the structure is available for use.
July/August 2025 construction update:
The project is on track to be substantially complete at (or very close to) the start of the school year.
The final major piece of remaining work is installation of safety surfacing, which has been scheduled for early August. The exact open date then depends on things like safety checks and any adjustments needed. We expect there to be room in the calendar for that work to occur by the start of the school year.
We expect there will be some minor work to be completed by the site contractor in the fall, that should not require the playground to be closed off entirely. There may be the occasional cordoning off of work areas within the site, but that work will be coordinated with the schools to try to reduce disruptions, if any.
Construction Beginning February 2024
We are pleased to inform you that construction of the Peabody School Playground Improvements Project is set to commence. This project contract, which includes an upgrade of existing play features with new Bankshot inclusive basketball system, regrading to ensure an accessible surface, and new tree plantings, has been awarded to Argus Construction.
Construction activities will begin with mobilization and the installation of temporary construction fencing the week of Monday, February 5, 2024.
Abutters on Yerxa Road should take note of No Parking signs posted 48 hours in advance to assist construction vehicles in maneuvering into the site.
The contractor, Argus Construction, is currently finalizing a more detailed construction schedule, which will be provided to residents and abutters in an additional notice. This schedule will outline key milestones and activities.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Peabody School Playground Improvements Project construction, please reach out to Kristen Kelleher, Community Relations Manager, at kkelleher@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4825
Concept Plans
Click here to view concepts for the playground improvements project.
Community Meeting Presentation Recording and Additional Engagement
A recording of the presentation from the community meeting is now available.
Click here to view the meeting recording.
Passcode: b7R@x+6.
We are also holding engagement opportunities to provide feedback on the project concept:
- Virtual Drop-in Q&A/Feedback Sessions
These will be informal sessions that community members can drop in (virtually) to ask questions or provide feedback on the project. While not required, we encourage you to view the recorded presentation ahead of the meeting. We will be holding two time options:
Session 1: Tuesday, November 15, 6 PM to 7 PM
Click here to register for this drop-in session
Session 2: Friday, November 18, 7 AM to 8 AM
Click here to register for this drop-in session
- In-Person Drop-in Sessions
Project staff will be on-site in the lobby of the Peabody School the morning of Tuesday, November 15 for an informal open house-style discussion about the plans for the playground.
- Virtual Office Hours
We will continue to hold virtual office hours as a flexible option for people to provide feedback or ask questions about the playground plans. Click here to sign up for virtual office hours with the project team.
Playground Improvements Project Community Meeting - Monday, November 07, 6:00 PM
Please join us for a community meeting to learn about the project, how we approach playground design, design goals for this project (guided by our study of the site and early engagement with stakeholders), and to view our design concept for the playground.
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://cambridgema.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIpdOiqpj8pHtcF-HhVbong8tm7M2ZwN-Ar
When: Nov 7, 2022 - 06:00 PM - 7:30 PM
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
For those not able to attend at this time, a recording of the meeting will be available and additional ways to provide feedback will be added to the project page.
Project Design Goals
We have been studying the area so we can present ideas this fall. The new design will address the following areas:
• Shade and Protection From Heat: Right now, the playground is in the sun most of the day and doesn’t have much shade. We’d like to add some, either with trees or coverings.
• Inclusive Design: We want the site to be able to kids of all abilities to play—together!
• Different Types of Play, Movement Play: We’ve heard there is a need for more challenging play features on the younger side.
• Space for Learning Outdoors: There’s a desire for a space to bring the classroom outside.
We Want to Hear From You!
What do you think? Do these goals make sense? Are we missing anything important? Reach out to the project team to let us know!
This fall, we will be holding a community meeting and other engagement opportunities to present and hear feedback on a concept plan guided by these goals. Click here to sign up for our email list for updates and upcoming engagement opportunities.