This is not benign neglect

YOUR ARTICLE on playground maintenance called to mind the state Department of Conservation and Recreation's apparent approach to maintaining the playground nearest my home, across from the Stony Brook MBTA station on the Southwest Corridor Park in Jamaica Plain: Just tear it down.

I brought my kids to the playground regularly for the past 12 years, and the park was generally cleaned regularly. However, after more than 20 years of neglected maintenance, the playground equipment was falling apart. So, instead of making the necessary investments to replace the well-used equipment, it seems the DCR simply decided to dismantle the entire thing. Now the children of my section of Jamaica Plain have a well-groomed sandpit in place of their play structure.

It's time for the state to invest in both maintenance and repair of this and other playgrounds so that all children have a safe, clean, and exciting place to play.

ERIK BERG
Jamaica Plain