The big green slide located on the grounds of Botelle School is again in need of repairs. The 60-foot slide, a favorite with the town’s children, has been replaced once and will have been repaired twice since 2019.
The town crew did final landscaping around the slide only last April.
“The parts are in and we hope to have it repaired soon,” said First Selectman Henry Tirrell. “It had developed cracks at the top, so the supplier is going to add extra support to the top piece and extra rings to the structure as it goes down to prevent more problems in the future.”
The original slide, which was in place for about 20 years, was vandalized by teenagers in 2019. Attempts were made to repair it, but it was soon discovered that the wooden supports were rotted and needed to be replaced as well.
Replacement became controversial in town, with some residents objecting to the $80,000 price tag. Money was eventually taken from ARPA funding and private donations, but it was not until 2023 that the slide was replaced and opened to young children.
Almost immediately, the replacement failed due to cracked flanges and improper footings, rendering it unsafe. It lay abandoned as efforts were made to get the supplier, Creative Recreation, to make an adjustment. After long negotiations, the slide was restored at no cost to the town. Creative Recreation is responsible for the current repairs as well.
Tirrell attributed the current breakdown “more to improper design” than to inappropriate use of the structure. He predicted that after repair the slide will need regular maintenance.