SAUGUS – The Ballard Early Childhood Center has a new wheelchair-accessible ramp along with some upgrades to the school grounds, according to Town Manager Scott Crabtree.Crabtree said the ramp is part of an “overall town plan” in complying with Americans with Disabilities Act access and improving infrastructure of the schools and town buildings.While the original plan was for some kind of lift in the stairway, Crabtree said town officials felt it wouldn?t be a safe setup.?This was a good alternative, and I think it came out great as far as allowing emergency and handicap accessibility to the building” said Crabtree.?The town, Superintendent Michael Tempesta and Principal Marie Bridges discussed different options to accomplish this plan. This ramp offered the best solution for safety and was the most cost effective,” Crabtree added in a press release.Crabtree said the ramp cost around $25,000, which is about half the price of what a lift would have cost.?I want to thank Fred Varone and the building maintenance department for their hard work and dedication,” said Crabtree. “They did an excellent job of coordinating and putting this together.”Along with the ramp, Crabtree said new playground-certified mulch was delivered, while workers installed new safety railings at the entrances, a bell and lighting at the ramp entrance, safety screens for the low windows. He also said cracks and other trip hazards in the play area were repaired and the playground was seal coated for “longevity and safety of the children.”?Everyone was very pleased with the outcome and completion of this project that was initially requested by the Schools earlier this year,” said Crabtree. “I also want to thank our Saugus business partners who donated some labor and material for this project.”