Nutley Firefighters Put up Playgrounds at the Shore

When firefighters erect ladders, it's usually to put out a fire. But this month, Nutley firefighters have been putting up ladders to let children go down slides.

Members of the Nutley Fire Department are working with the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (FMBA) on the Sandy Ground Project; Where Angels Play, a program that has firefighters join local volunteers to build playgrounds. 

The program was created after the devastating Hurricane Sandy devastated New Jersey, New York and Connecticut and then the horrific shootings in Newtown CT. 

NJ FMBNA President Bill Lavin came up with the concept to build 26 playgrounds in areas devastated by Sandy in honor of the Newtown CT. victims.

On Sunday, Nutley FMBA Local 44 members Anthony Santoro, Paul Spaguolo, and Robert Spagnuolo along with fellow Nutley Resident and retired North Hudson Firefighter and former Nutley volunteer firefighter Alan Ballester traveled to Normandy Beach to participate in the eighth playground build, this one will be Celebrating the Life of Chase Kowalski. 

Ballester, a retiree, has been involved in all eight playgrounds so far including the three in CT. In addition Nutley FMBA members Dom DiSimone and John Hund have been involved in previous builds.

Inspired by senseless violence in Newtown, CT. and in an effort to restore the storm ravaged east coast after Hurricane Sandy, the firefighters endeavor to create 26 living memorials to all children who have been victims of violence while creating safe, fun places for children to play. 

Firefighters said they hope the playgrounds provide a symbol of hope, recovery and a return to normalcy and can enhance and sustain childhood.

The NJ FMBA’s original playground program saw three playgrounds built in the gulf coast following Hurricane Katrina. Children from the gulf coast where the playgrounds were built collected and delivered a trailer load of toys to the FMBA to distribute to children in the shore area after Sandy.