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Hinkley Helpers Reveals Fun, Inclusive Playground Design

$10,000 left to fundraise, final deadline to buy a brick is August 31st

Hinkley Helpers Launches Bench, Table and Brick Campaign, Needs Support to Build in 2023

Find “Bluey the Brick” at Local Businesses Paving the Way to the Finish Line

Have you seen “Bluey the Brick” at a local business supporting Hinkley Helpers? Tag @hinkleyhelpers #rebuildhinkley and enter to win a tree swing! Support today to build in 2023!

MEDFIELD, January 24, 2023 — With only $60,000 left of its $500,000 fundraising campaign, the Hinkley Helpers, an initiative of the Medfield Foundation, needs to close the gap this spring to build a new community playground in 2023. Despite the craze of the holidays, more than one hundred and twenty individuals and families helped raise over $22,000 in December through the Hinkley Helper brick campaign. Thank you to those who helped lay the foundation for the future community playground. Continuing to hear of high demand for the engraved bricks, the Hinkley Helpers have extended the brick campaign until March 31, 2023.

Find “Bluey the Brick” at Local Businesses, Win a Backyard Tree Swing for Spring

To help close the gap, “Bluey the Brick,” a mythical mascot dreamt up by Hinkley Helper children, will be spotted around town at local businesses supporting this community initiative. If you find “Bluey,” snap a pic and share it on Facebook or Instagram tagging @HinkleyHelpers #RebuildHinkley or email the same to hinkleyrebuild@gmail.com. At the end of the campaign, three lucky entrants will win a tree swing (ARV $90) to enjoy at home this spring!

How to Buy a Brick

Available to order until March 31, 2023, bricks come in two sizes: 4×4 for $150 and 8×8 for $250. Bricks must be inscribed with names only (e.g., The Kingsbury Family, Stephen Hinkley, The Dad Bods, In Honor of The Blue Moon Bagel Cafe, In Memory of Hannah Adams, etc.). “Founding Family” donors ($1,000 Giving Circle) will have a special designated engraved paver denoting Founding Family when a paver is purchased. Hinkley Helpers aims to preserve the bricks currently at the playground from when it was built in 1996. 

To buy a brick, please Click HERE! Click the green donate button and select the $150 or $250 option on the “Hinkley Helper Brick Campaign” and complete the informational Google form on the same site. Forms for the engraved pavers are also available at The Medfield Town House (459 Main Street). Please make a check payable to Medfield Foundation Inc. with a note in Memo: “Hinkley Helpers Brick” and drop it off or mail it to: Medfield Foundation, c/o Medfield Town House, 459 Main Street, Medfield, MA 02052.

Limited Number of Benches, Tables and Signs Available!

For those looking to make a lasting impact as an individual, family or group of donors, the Hinkley Helpers will be revitalizing the seating available at the park to ensure a space for everyone to enjoy for all occasions – picnics, birthdays, or taking a load off while the children play. 

Like with the bricks, a plaque will be available for the tables and benches, and credit given for the signs that will showcase the playground corporate sponsors, Founding Families and Playground Pals. Please email hinkleyrebuild@gmail.com if interested in supporting through a table, sign or bench. Currently, the following are available:

• $5,000 Table (3 available)
• $4,000 Signage board (2 available)
• $2,500 Bench (2 available)

Donate Now to Build a New Community Destination This Year!

To donate in any amount – $10, $25, $500 and join the Playground Pals or Founding Families – please visit www.hinkleyhelpers.com. For donations and sponsorships of more than $5,000, please email hinkleyrebuild@gmail.com.

Thank you to everyone in Medfield – individuals, families, and businesses – who have donated and supported bringing a new revitalized destination to everyone in town and beyond.

Hinkley Helpers Announces Limited-Time “Buy a Brick, Build a Playground” Campaign

To build in 2023, remaining $100,000 must be raised by the end of 2022

Hinkley Helpers, an initiative of The Medfield Foundation, today announced its limited-time “Buy a Brick, Build a Playground!” campaign aimed to raise the majority of funds remaining to build a fun, safe and inclusive playground. With $100,000 left to its $500,000 fundraising goal, Hinkley Helpers must raise the remaining funds in 2022 to build a new community playground in 2023.

Give the Gift of a Brick this Holiday Season

Launched just in time for holiday gift-giving, now families, friends and businesses alike can give and receive a gift that will make a lasting community impact and endure at the playground for decades. 

Available to order until December 15, 2022, bricks come in two sizes: 4×4 for $150 and 8×8 for $250. Bricks must be inscribed with names only (e.g., The McCallister Family, Kevin McCallister, The Wet Bandits, In Honor of Larry & Marv, In Memory of Buzz’s tarantula, etc.). “Founding Family” donors ($1,000 Giving Circle) will have a special designated engraved paver denoting Founding Family, when a paver is purchased. Hinkley Helpers aims to preserve the bricks currently at the playground from when it was last built in 1996. 

How to Buy a Brick

To buy a brick, please visit https://tinyurl.com/Hinkley-Helpers, select the $150 or $250 option on the “Hinkley Helper Brick Campaign,” and complete the informational form on the same site.

Mail-in forms for the bricks are also available at The Medfield Town House (459 Main Street). Please make a check payable to Medfield Foundation Inc. with a note in Memo: “Hinkley Helpers Brick” and drop it off or mail it to: 

Medfield Foundation

c/o Medfield Town House

459 Main Street

Medfield, MA 02052

Donate Now to Build in 2023!

To donate in any amount – $10, $25, $500 and join the Playground Pals or Founding Families – please visit www.hinkleyhelpers.com. For donations and sponsorships of more than $5,000, please email hinkleyrebuild@gmail.com. 

With only $100,000 left to fundraise, the Hinkley Helpers Brick Campaign aims to help close the gap by the end of the year. Thank you to everyone in Medfield – individuals, families and businesses – who have donated and supported bringing a new revitalized destination to everyone in town and beyond.

Updated November 14, 2022

Thank you to the community from Hinkley Helpers

Only $120,000 left to close the gap by the end of 2022!

Hinkley Helpers, an initiative of the Medfield Foundation, extends a heartfelt thank you to the Town of Medfield, businesses, families, and individuals. Since fundraising kicked off in July, they have supported our mission and helped us raise $380,000.

Our “Hops for Hinkley” silent auction, sponsored by Medfield Employers & Merchants Organization (MEMO), raised nearly $20,000 thanks to the generosity of local businesses and individuals. The event was held Sunday, October 2nd, at 7th Wave Brewing, which donated its space and a portion of the day’s sales. Nearly 350+ people jammed to the DadBods, a local Medfield band, while kids enjoyed activities provided by The Medfield Public Library and the TumbleBus. 

Hinkley Helpers’ silent auction would not have been possible without the support of local Medfield businesses, including Around the Plate, Basil, Beautox, Be Charmed, Butterfly Tree, Code Ninjas, Chubs Ice Cream Truck, CrossFit Medfield, Cutlets, Design on a Dime, Farthest Star Sake, Garden Continuum, Goats of Dover, The Hot Dog Wagon, The Jowdy Group, Kingsbury Club, Medfield Children’s Center,  The Medfield Police, The Medfield Fire Department, Medfield Parks & Recreation, MedfieldTV, Medfield Yoga, My Gym, Needham Bank, Palumbo Liquors, PEX, Randy’s Automotive, Roche Brothers, Sassy, Texture Salon & Spa, and Vana Homes, to name a few. 

Many volunteers have dedicated much of their time to swing Hinkley Helpers forward, including Alex Monahan, Blake Finchen, Bridget Holiver, Casey Worth, Maria Burke, Molly Sherman, Tara and Brett Dietz, and Shane Medeiros.

To close the fundraising gap by the end of the year and build in 2023, Hinkley Helpers must raise $120,000 over the next three months. Thank you to the fourteen donors who have joined Founding Families and the five who have joined Playground Pals, jointly raising nearly $19,000 before the silent auction. With double the number of members joining these groups, these special donors can quickly double their impact. We plan to raise additional funds through our engraved paver program, launching just in time for holiday gift giving, and through corporate donations in the pipeline. To donate, visit www.hinkleyhelpers.com. 

We’ve made incredible progress with only $120,000 left to raise by the end of the year to build a fun, safe, and inclusive playground. Thank you to everyone supporting this community initiative, including The Medfield Foundation. We can’t wait to cut the ribbon on a new community destination!

Thank you,

The Hinkley Helpers

Kelly Fallon, Adrienne Mandigo, and Ashley Leduc

Hinkley Helpers Invites Community to Silent Auction “Hops for Hinkley” at 7th Wave Brewing

Family-Friendly Event Plans to Raise $25,000+ with Auction Items & Activities for Everyone

Medfield, September 14, 2022 – Hinkley Helpers, an initiative of The Medfield Foundation, is hosting its signature fundraising event – “Hops for Hinkley” – to benefit the planning and rebuilding of a fun, safe and inclusive playground at Hinkley Park. Live music, activities for kids, cold beer for adults and silent auction items for everyone is sponsored by Medfield Employers and Merchants Organization, Inc. (MEMO) and will be held Sunday, October 2, 2022 at 7th Wave Brewing (120 N. Meadows Road, Medfield, MA) from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with the silent auction going live on Medfield Day, September 24, 2022 via www.32auctions.com/hinkleyhelpers.

With only $170,000 left of the $500,000 fundraising campaign, Hinkley Helpers aims to raise over $25,000 via the silent auction, bringing the community closer to the goal of building a community destination playground at Hinkley Memorial Park. The group aims to complete fundraising by the end of the year to build by 2023. Thanks to the many businesses in Medfield and beyond who have contributed their services and products in support of building a community destination for Medfield. There are auction items for everyone, including: 

• Park Hopper Passes to Disney World
• Rounds of Golf at The Charles River Country Club, Kittansett, and The Cape Club of Sharon
• Getaway to The Jared Coffin House in Nantucket
• Sake class and tasting for 10 donated by Farthest Star Sake
• Personal Training Sessions donated by PEX
• Goat-o-Gram donated by Goats of Dover
• Patriot’s Tickets donated by The Jowdy Group
• 1 Week of Summer Camp & Hinkley Pond Pass donated by The Town of Medfield Park & Recreation Department
• Weekly, seasonal and deep-cleaning sessions donated by Vana Homes
• And much, much more!

Auction items will be available online starting on Medfield Day, September 24, 2022, at https://www.32auctions.com/hinkleyhelpers with text and email updates available to participating bidders. The auction closes after the event at midnight, Sunday October, 2, 2022.

If you are a business or an individual interested in donating an item for the silent auction, please email hinkleyrebuild@gmail.com. 

Fun activities for the kids

To keep the kids occupied while the adults play, Hinkley Helpers, with the support of MEMO, has hired the TumbleBus, a fully padded converted school bus that is filled with gymnastics equipment to provide a safe and fun environment for children ages 2 to 6. The TumbleBus will only be available from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and hosts groups of kids for blocks of time. The Medfield Public Library will also be on hand to lead storytime and host a craft table.

Non-alcoholic beverages, the best-hot dogs-in-town from The Hot Dog Wagon, and delicious ice cream from Chub’s Ice Cream will also be at the event in addition to 7th Wave Brewing’s famous pizza.

How to join the fun at 7th Wave Brewing

Show up day of or to help with planning, please register at https://hopsforhinkley.eventbrite.com. Register for a “free ticket” or “donate” any amount to help defray the costs of this event. 

Updated September 13, 2022

 

 

Town of Medfield Awards Hinkley Helpers $250,000 to Rebuild Community Playground

Hinkley Helpers Asks the Community to Close Gap by Year-End to Rebuild by 2023

On August 30, 2022, during the Town of Medfield Board of Selectman regular meeting, the Board voted to designate $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, to rebuild the playground at Stephen Hinkley Park, inclusive of a new fence. With the Hinkley Helpers in attendance, whose mission is to fundraise, plan and rebuild a fun, safe and inclusive playground at the park, the group has now reached more than half of their fundraising goal of $500,000 within three months of active fundraising.

“This $250,000 contribution from the Town has skyrocketed our fundraising efforts. We hope to build on this momentum with the support we’ve seen from the community hosting lemonade stands, creating team fundraisers, and joining our Playground Pals and Founding Families Giving Circles,” said Kelly Fallon, Founder of Hinkley Helpers. “We plan to continue to work closely with the Town and the community to bring the best playground to Medfield and create a destination for everyone in the community.”

Community Needs to Close the $200K Gap by Year-End for 2023 Build

Given the lead-time needed to purchase, ship, and install a playground of significant size to serve as an accessible and inclusive community destination, Hinkley Helpers needs to close their $200,000 fundraising gap by the end of the year to build for summer 2023. Once the funds are raised to rebuild the playground, the Town will conduct a request for proposal from playground equipment vendors listed on the Commonwealth’s approved vendor list. Hinkley Helpers will work closely with the Town and the community to plan and rebuild the playground. 

To help inform fundraising and planning purposes, Hinkley Helpers has worked closely with playground vendors, KOMPAN and O’Brien & Sons, to understand costs and timing and to create renderings to help the community envision the possibilities for the playground. These renderings can be found at www.hinkleyhelpers.com, www.facebook.com/hinkleyhelpers, or the Hinkley Helper’s Booth #203 at Medfield Day.

Donate Now to Build by 2023!

Every contribution counts! Donate any amount – $10, $25, $500, join the “Playground Pals” or “Founding Families” by visiting www.hinkleyhelpers.com. To date, “Gold Level” sponsors include The Blue Moon Bagel Cafe, Roche Brothers, and Park Street Books & Toys, and many businesses, individuals, and families have also kindly contributed. For donations and sponsorships of more than $5,000, please email hinkleyrebuild@gmail.com. 

Updated August 30, 2022

Hinkley Helpers launches “Playground Pals” & “Founding Families” to Benefit Signature Playground in Medfield

Blue Moon Bagel Cafe Kickstarts Fundraising Campaign with $20,000 Matching Donation

MEDFIELD, MA, August 1, 2022 — Hinkley Helpers, an initiative of The Medfield Foundation, Inc., has announced its first significant fundraising goal: to raise $150,000 from the Medfield community. To launch the campaign, the organization has launched new “Playground Pals” and “Founding Families” initiatives and secured a momentous $20,000 matching donation from the Freedman and the Monahan families of The Blue Moon Bagel Cafe. 

“Growing up in Medfield, my family and I have spent countless days at the playground and swimming pond at Hinkley Park. Now, as a parent and small business owner in Medfield, it’s an honor to be able to give back to the community and rebuild a modern playground for all families to enjoy for decades to come,” said Alex Monahan, co-owner of The Blue Moon Bagel Cafe.

Impact the Medfield Community by Joining “Playground Pals” or “Founding Families”

Contributions of any amount coupled with the generous matching donation from The Blue Moon Bagel Cafe will help support Hinkley Helpers’ mission of fundraising, planning and building a fun, safe and inclusive playground at the Stephen M. Hinkley Memorial park. 

By joining the Playground Pals ($500) or Founding Families ($1,000), community members will accelerate the revitalization of Medfield and a new community destination. For example, should 1% of Medfield residents or 150 people join Playground Pals, a new toddler playscape can be funded, and when the same join Founding Families, a new universally accessible groundcover can be laid for all ages and abilities to enjoy.

The Rose Family, supporters of the playground, stated: “As frequent visitors of the playground, we know firsthand how ready it is for a makeover and have been waiting for an opportunity to help. We are excited that these sponsorship levels have the potential to accelerate fundraising and are even more excited that Blue Moon’s generous match will boost our contribution.”  

The benefits of joining the Playground Pals and Founding Families include acknowledging the groups on a permanent commemorative plaque at the new playground. Founding Families will be invited to attend an exclusive sneak peek of the new playground before it opens to the public and have the option to secure specially designated pavers when purchased later in the fundraising campaign. Hinkley Helpers has also committed to retaining the pavers from when the playground was built more than twenty-five years ago. 

The most significant corporate donation to date, The Blue Moon Bagel Cafe joins Park Street Books & Toys, PEX Health & Fitness, and Beginning Years as supporters of the playground. For donations and sponsorships of more than $5,000, please email hinkleyrebuild@gmail.com. 

The group estimates the total cost of rebuilding the playground to be $500,000 and plans to reach that goal through community donations, corporate sponsors, and grants, which the Town of Medfield is actively seeking.

Updated August 1, 2022

Hinkley Helpers’ Launch Survey Results Show Community Supports New Playground

Respondents provide insights on the biggest issues, hopes for a new playground

When Hinkley Helpers first announced its mission to fundraise, plan and rebuild a fun, safe, and inclusive playground at Hinkley Park, it also launched a survey to learn more about what the community loves and hopes for a new playground. Even kids participated with one respondent commenting, “Whenever I say ‘Let’s go to the playground,’ my five-year-old daughter ALWAYS replies ‘Not Hinkley. I want to go to a different playground!’”

Condition of the decades-old playground forces the community outside of Medfield

Over the course of about thirty days, more than 300 respondents provided insightful feedback, helping to inform Hinkley Helpers’ plans, and nearly all respondents support building a new playground. With a 2.7 out of 5 satisfaction rating (which is an awful Uber driver or passenger rating!), 75% of respondents take their children to playgrounds in neighboring towns, and 60% shop (e.g. run errands, dine out, etc.) in those towns when they visit, taking business out of Medfield. In fact, one respondent noted “Compared to other playgrounds in Medfield it’s consistent. Other towns blow us away.” 

Hinkley Helpers aims to resolve the community’s biggest issues and priorities

With a goal of providing a fun, safe and inclusive playground for all ages and abilities, Hinkley Helpers plans to tackle the issues and priorities voiced by survey respondents.

Biggest issues include:

• For ⅔ of respondents, broken and worn elements and outdated design are the biggest issues
• For ½ of the respondents, the ground covering posed an issue
• Nearly ⅓ noted the playground was not accessible, inclusive or adaptable, which directly relates to the outdated structure itself and the inaccessible ground-covering

Biggest priorities include:

• Nearly 80% of respondents want challenge elements appropriate for children of many ages and sizes and many commented on aging up the playground with more challenging elements for older kids (e.g. ninja warrior elements)
• ⅓ of respondents wanted more seating and picnic tables 
• ½ of respondents wanted areas of shade and cover from the sun 

So, what’s next? How can the community support?

From Hinkley Helpers’ research on playgrounds and their cost, the community needs to raise significant funds to address these issues and priorities. Hinkley Helpers has done extensive research on the cost of playgrounds, which you can read about here,  and is now asking the community to help support this monumental initiative. There are a variety of ways to support: 

• Have fun! Come to a Fundraiser hosted by The Pottery Place at Park St. Books to “Paint for the Playground.” One hundred percent of the proceeds will benefit Hinkley Helpers! Thank you Park Street Books and Jim James for continued support!
• Join the Community! Join the Hinkley Helpers and the Medfield community and provide a gift of any amount – $10, $25, $50, $100, $500, $1,000, $5,000 – which will directly help to build a fun, safe and inclusive playground. Hinkley Helpers is an initiative of The Medfield Foundation. Please include “Hinkley Helpers” in the Designation line when you donate here.

Learn more! Email hinkleyrebuild@gmail.com to be the first to learn about updates before they are released to the public or to inquire about volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.

Updated July 10, 2022

What does it cost to build a new community playground at Hinkley Park?

Since Hinkley Helpers officially launched in March, we have been researching how much it costs to build a community playground. We have connected with the project managers of neighboring playgrounds in Sherborn and Medway. We have met with various playground equipment vendors to survey the playground at Hinkley Park as well as learn more about playgrounds built by these vendors.

Based on conversations with multiple playground vendors and neighboring playground project managers, we estimate that it will cost between $300,00 and $500,000 to build a modern, ADA-compliant and inclusive playground for children of all ages and abilities. 

The goal of the Hinkley Helpers is to build a destination community playground that is fun, safe and inclusive. We aim to build a playground that costs $500,000 and plan to reach that goal through community donations, corporate sponsors, and grants. 

What does 500,000 cover?

When the fundraising campaign nears completion, the project will go to bid via a formal request for proposal process conducted by the Town of Medfield’s Park & Recreation Department and in collaboration with Hinkley Helpers. Hinkley Helpers is exploring multiple vendors to better understand estimated costs and timelines, and from our research, we have learned that the following five areas require significant support:

• Demolition & Disposal: ~$10,000
• Excavation: ~$20,000
• ADA-Compliant & Inclusive Groundcover (6,000 sq ft): ~$125,000
• Playground Equipment & Delivery: ~$250,000
• Installation: ~$120,000

Costs can be scaled down through in-kind donations. For example, if the Medfield Department of Public Works (amongst other needs) donated its service to demolish and dispose of the equipment and excavate the grounds, the total monetary fundraising goal would be significantly reduced.

What could additional funds contribute to?

From our Hinkley Helpers Launch Survey Results, we learned respondents were interested in updating amenities like the bathrooms at Hinkley Park and erecting a fence specific to the playground area. While these two projects are not currently scoped in Hinkley Helpers’ plan for rebuilding the playground itself, if there are additional funds raised, they might be able to be contributed to these areas. Parks & Recreation has recently built a fence around the perimeter of the playground area and will be adding to that to prevent children from going beyond the fence line. The materials have been ordered, but there is not an ETA on installation given delays in the supply chain.

Additionally, many respondents voiced interest in a splash pad or pool, which would require significant additional funding in addition to water lines to support water features, which the park currently does not have. At this time, the focus is on improving the playground itself as a complimentary amenity to Hinkley Pond, which is naturally spring-fed, treated every two weeks at a minimum, and tested weekly during the summer. Results of these tests are posted both online (www.MedfieldRec.com) and at Hinkley Pond. Parks and Recreation, with assistance from the Department of Public Works, annually drains the water, cleans the bottom of the pond, and adds fresh sand annually to provide an environment for families and swimmers to enjoy during the dog days of summer.

What are comparable, local playgrounds?

From our research with playground equipment vendors, we have garnered comparables for playgrounds built within recent history. It is important to note, that within the past year, the cost of building materials has increased 20% and is not likely to return to pre-pandemic pricing. 

• Rice Complex in Wrentham, MA built in 2020: $600,000*
• Rt 1A Playground in Walpole, MA built in 2022: $420,000

• Choate Park in Medway, MA built in 2018: $400,000*
• Carolyn Woodward in Walpole, MA built in 2022: $352,00

Hinkley Helpers is committed to building a playground that works for the community and working closely with the Town of Medfield, to ensure this initiative’s success. 

Join us by donating or contacting us at hinkleyrebuild@gmail.com to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. 

Updated July 10, 2022