With the ultimate goal of creating a multi-generational recreation space, the transformation of North Quarter Park has begun.

The first step of this three-year project was to take down the old playscape at the park, which had been put in place in 1986. That work was completed this past spring, making way for the updated playscape, new swing sets, playground climber equipment, a new shell fort and more.

The new equipment was installed and the picnic area was moved to a shady spot by volunteers from the Chester Park & Recreation Commission, Park & Recreation Department summer camp and life guard staff, and the town’s Public Works Department.

“I think it looks great,” said Park & Recreation Department Director Elizabeth Netsch.

“They have done a great job here,” said Ashley Dion, who grew up in Chester and now lives in Old Saybrook.

Dion brings her one- and three-year-old daughters to North Quarter Park when she visits her hometown.

“I think the most important thing is that my girls love the new equipment and have a great time playing on it,” said Dion

“This is a real boost for the town,” said First Selectman Lauren Gister. “This new playground is absolutely beautiful; all of sudden the park is full of life again. This is exactly what we had hoped would happen. It’s great to see our park being used and enjoyed again.”

Although things are looking good, that’s not where the work ends. Over the next year, according to Netsch, plans are to also construct a basketball court and a nine-hole disc golf course at the park. Netsch said those projects are planned to be completed by spring 2020.

“I think it looks great. I am very happy that there are two separate play areas now, with some green space in between and we have moved the picnic area over to a shady area,” said Netsch.

She has been dreaming of creating a disc golf course at the park for the past 15 years, ever since her own children went to college in Virginia where they began playing the popular sport.

“Disc golf is really big down in Virginia and I knew it would be moving up here eventually, so I have had this idea for a while and I am very glad that it is finally happening,” said Netsch, who enjoys the sport herself.

Money for this multi-tiered, multi-year project in town is being released from the town’s capital project budget, which has been being added to over the past few years in preparation for this work.