Standish Park is in the mid-northern part of Olde Wethersfield. It is bounded by Nott Street on the northern edge, Hartford Avenue on the east, Francis Street (and Hanmer Elementary School) on the south and Garden Street on the west.

At the northwestern corner of Standish Park stood a slowly decaying playground in recent years, where budgetary restraints, legal considerations and liabilities had led to the gradual removal rather than replacement of the playground equipment.

Gone were the teeter totters, gone was the large, concrete-edged sand box with its large, decapitated, concrete turtle, gone was the spring-supported animals, gone were the slides, gone were the "monkey" bars, gone were the kiddy swings, gone was the merry-go-round.

All that remained was a space partially enclosed by a wire fence and hemlock trees on the west and maple trees on the east. It was a space of memories rather than activities.

It was a space about to undergo a remarkable transformation due to a loss, lots of love, an idea, a commitment and a family, Mikey's family, and their relatives, friends and the people and town of Wethersfield.

But, before there could be healing and regrowth there had to be a cleansing and clearing. The debris of weathering, wear and neglect had to be removed. And, the land had to be tilled, so to speak, before Mikey's Place could be planted and encouraged to grow.......

And the first signs of life were large pads of blacktop, marking the spots where special equipment was to be installed. Mother nature cooperated by providing a wonderfully colorful surrounding and more often than not hospitable weather for this huge project.

Even these meager beginnings were enough for the neighborhood boys who immediately put the site to their own use, biking. Piles of dirt became the launching pads for bike jumping. Already it was a good place to just hang out.

So join us a while and take the time follow this story of the 'Building of Mikey's Place.' In the spring of 2001, and beyond, when the leaves of rebirth have returned, when the playscape is done and when the grass is green....

....and the sun again is bright, high and warm, come back to these views of "before" and see the "after," side by side. Better yet, come down to Standish Park in Olde Wethersfield, Connecticut and visit the new Mikey's Place. And, oh yes, bring a child or two or more. Mikey would like that!