Winter, 2000-2001, could not stay the dedication, planning and work invested in Mikey's Place. A failing, if not neglected split-rail fence skirted the north edge of Standish Park along Nott Street. With the anticipated throngs of children, a meaningful fence was planned to replace it to separate easily distracted youngsters from unforgiving automobile traffic, but with a touch of class. Also, Mikey's Place needed to accommodate some of the needs of the parents and grandparents who were sent to supervise their young charges. Shaded seating would provide some respite from the rigors of standing and walking and observing frenetic children.

The Mikey's Place logo was designed by Tina Lynch of Wethersfield based on discussions with the Daversa Family. The Paoletti Fence Company took Ms. Lynch's work and created a special section of the new fence to serve as one of the signs which identify Mikey's Place to those who approach it......

The Paoletti Fence Company, like several other trades and businesses, contributed to Mikey's Place "in kind." The donated at least 300 feet of decorative fencing along the northern border of Mikey's Place along Nott Street. They also installed it well after the original work of October, 2000, but before spring arrived in 2001.....

One of the most significant features of Mikey's Place was the "Victorian Sun Shelter." Knowing that there was a strong sentiment in Old Wethersfield in prior years against the building of a (shudder!) gazebo, the Daversa's instead offered instead to build a "Victorian Sun Shelter." With nary a whisper of descent, the octagonal sun shelter received the needed approval of the regulatory bodies.....

Finding a Victorian Sun Shelter proved to be quite a challenge, that is, until they found one of the appropriate size offered by Kloter Farms (of Ellington, CT). In that catelog, however, it was identified as a "gazebo." Since all of features of the Victorian Sun Shelter were met by the gazebo-like product offered, it was ordered. No one objected....

The (we can use the term now) gazebo chosen was the "Imperial Classic" model measuring 18 feet in width and standing 15 feet tall to the peak of the cupola. The manufacturer prefabricated the gazebo from durable, quality materials into sections, shipped the finished components to Mikey's Place and had a contractor install in on footing installed to receive it.....

The gazebo at Mikey's Place graces the northwestern corner of the playground. It provides another place for adults to rest their weary bones in a shaded, airy pavilion. Benches were additionally installed around most of the inner perimeter of the gazebo so that people would not have bring seats or chairs. The central area is thus available for more people and strollers for example.....

Here Mary (Mikey's Mom) Daversa chats with one of the family of contractors hired to erect the gazebo. The work that day was also captured by local, prominent videographer Paul Aloi, who later edited his work and aired it on WCTV, Wethersfield Community (cable) TV, Channel 14. Admittedly, the work was slowed by all of the sidewalk superintendents that day.

The gazebo at Mikey's Place will be maintained, as the rest of the playground, by an endowed fund infused with contributions and the proceeds of the Mikey's Place annual "Walk and Run," held in October. Such foresight on the part of the Daversa's has relieved the taxpayers of Wethersfield of a significant potential burden.....