NAHANT — Workers from G/J Towing and Recovery were at Johnson Elementary Tuesday morning to put the finishing touches on the school’s newest playground additions.
Earlier this year, Principal Kevin Andrews partnered with lifelong resident, Johnson School alumnus, and owner of G/J, Gennaro Angiulo, who helped secure a stainless steel slide and swing set that were previously located at the recently demolished Coast Guard Housing sites. The equipment, which Andrews dates back to around 1940, was restored and refurbished by Angiulo before being installed at the school. The G/J staff was busy laying mulch on the ground in the surrounding areas of the slide and swing sets.
“We’re using chipped-up pine trees as the base because you need 12 inches of mulch under these slides,” Andrews said. “I thought we could save money by putting the wild mulch down below and then we’ll have probably five or six inches of what they call safety mulch.”
He added the playground will be utilized by students of all ages, with the exception of preschoolers. He expects the slide to be ready for use within a week, while the swings will be ready sometime within the next two or three weeks. According to Andrews, Angiulo’s contributions will ultimately save the district $10,000.
“They’re excited,” Andrews said about his students’ excitement toward the new playground. “They’re asking when they can get on it… They want to know when it’s going to open or not.”
Also seen on the Johnson School premises was Diana Brandi, who Andrews described as the driving force behind the diverse foliage and gardens throughout the property. The Ohio native has been dedicating her time to beautifying the school for more than a decade, and also recently launched Seaside, her landscaping company that focuses on native plants. She expressed her goal to have the children gain an appreciation and respect for nature.
