Safeway team, with new store’s manager, joins Lafayette playground party

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(Photos and video by Christopher Boffoli for WSB)
The upcoming opening of the new Admiral Safeway loomed large at today’s work party for Lafayette Elementary‘s “Play It Forward” playground project, and not just because the store is across the street from the school. Safeway employees (including those above) joined the work party. Among them, the new store’s manager, going public for the first time in that role, though he is someone you might already know – more ahead:

Kurt Baxter currently manages the Roxbury Safeway, and will manage the new Admiral store when it opens on August 12th. He also managed the old Admiral Safeway as recently as five years ago, according to Safeway’s Sara Osborne, so it’s a homecoming of sorts.

Also at the Lafayette work party, district manager Scott Schmadeke talked to WSB’s Christopher Boffoli about benches to be installed at the playground and store, paying tribute to longtime employee Barb Fuda, who died of cancer recently (here’s our previous report):

Back to the playground: Today’s work of course included Lafayette family and community volunteers who’ve been working tirelessly on the project a long time:

(Amy French, daughter Jena French, Ellen Zoffel, and Paula Olson)
The main focus today was bark removal in the existing play area – to be saved for future use – so the current play equipment can be taken out. (As you may recall, the new “big toy” was chosen with school-community input.) And graffiti/tagging vandalism on a concrete wall was being painted over:

(Mechelle Burnett and Sandy Rowe)
A mural is planned for that part of the site. This phase of the longrunning Lafayette playground-renovation project is funded by a city matching grant and community donations.

M June 26, 2011 (12:15 am)

Grateful to hear Steve Rudd, the former manager, will not be returning.

Gina June 26, 2011 (8:15 am)

I foresee a summer of people climbing over the short fence by the Lander St. upper playground entrance, and school officials being puzzled how access is being gained to the fenced off area.

hopey June 26, 2011 (10:24 am)

Um, last time I checked, the entire playground area is enclosed by 8′ (or are they 10′?) fences with gates. There is a tall fence with gate by the kindergarten entrance & garden on Lander, another tall 2-door gate on Lander, a tall gate on 45th where the kids go to their busses (and where you can currently access the smaller play structure), a tall 2-door gate on the north side that is ALWAYS locked, and the faculty parking area can also be gated off and locked, completely enclosing the playground and parking areas. The last time I drove by, I saw they had put up a tall construction fence blocking off the small play structure area from the rest of the playground. I’m not sure which “short fence” you think people will be able to access and get over.

Gina June 26, 2011 (3:40 pm)

The kindergarten entrance is easy to get over. the older railings serve as boosts. And any kid with narrow feet can climb any of the chain link fences. Have seen it done, used to do it for fun myself long ago before locking gates were put on.

janine June 26, 2011 (3:54 pm)

Way to go Lafayette – Thanks for everyones hard work!!!

Kiran June 26, 2011 (8:32 pm)

The Safeway folks were beyond awesome!!! They had past Admiral employees, future employees and more than a handful that don’t even live in our neighborhood. They worked their hearts out and deserve a shout-out full of gratitude!

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