Parents, staffers raising money for Sumner School playground destroyed by arsonist

By adamg on Wed, 05/25/2016 - 9:28pm

Parents of students at Roslindale's Sumner School and people who work there have started a fundraiser to replace the playground equipment that somebody torched on Monday.

Part of the $400,000 they hope to raise will go to improve security around the playground to reduce the odds of this happening again.

The fundraiser will also pay for "supplemental field trips and equipment that can be used in the immediate future until the structure is rebuilt so our children still have access to play throughout their day" as well as improvements to the school gym so that the roughly 600 kids who attend the Sumner have a place to play during inclement weather.

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Comments

Insurance?

By DotDude on Wed, 05/25/2016 - 10:40pm.

Wouldn't this loss be covered by insurance? Does the city insure it's facilities?

Maybe not city property, technically

By adamg on Wed, 05/25/2016 - 11:29pm.

Since it was paid for by parents during a Menino-era program to raise funds for new playground equipment through donations (a similar thing was done at my daughter's school - some of the money then sat in a fund for a couple years because, for some reason, the principal objected to the curved benches the parents wanted for this little ampitheater-ish area).

Also note that the fundraiser is seeking to go beyond simply replacing the lost equipment and improve the gym - and pay for field trips to places that still have working playgrounds.

Probably not

By Roslindaler on Thu, 05/26/2016 - 9:07am.

Municipalities typically self insure.

Not your typical insurance

By In The Know on Thu, 05/26/2016 - 9:58am.

The city does not carry insurance on such items. They "self-insure" for certain liabilities such as personal injury for up to $100K but that is it.

Any use of a city facility under rental or usage is usually asked, if long term, to issue a certificate of insurance showing and demonstrating that they are covered and assume such liabilities. This means that if something goes wrong or someone is injured during such a usage, that renter is the party that is responsible. While the city can still be sued, it is likely the renter has coverage with deeper pockets.

So sadly, there is no reasonable coverage on such a play area. Of there is, and one can always hope, it likely will not pay for replacement at today's prices, and today's safety standards which get bumped up every few years.

Thank you for reporting so

By RosiMama on Thu, 05/26/2016 - 8:04am.

Thank you for reporting so thoroughly on this!

Good job, Sumner SPC

By tmrozzie on Thu, 05/26/2016 - 11:50am.

They are on the ball with this -- even sending out personalized thank you emails (mine had details that went beyond mail merge capabilities).

Great job moving quickly. This BPS parent is heartened by the community support that was galvanized by such a pointless and malicious act. Let's help right this wrong, and make sure that what appears to be a pattern of playground arson doesn't continue.

Hope the boys in blue

By anon on Thu, 05/26/2016 - 12:24pm.

Catch the eejit who set it on fire and embarrass him .

What a piece of shite .