Playground Closed In Ellington

ELLINGTON, CT — The Windermere School Playground will remain closed through the summer as construction continues on the Windermere Building Project, according to Ellington Public Schools.

The district’s 2026-27 calendar lists the first day of school as Aug. 27, 2026, so that is the practical reopening marker unless the district gives a more specific date.

The Windermere project is a major “renovate-to-new” school construction project. The town’s 2023 referendum notice described the authorization as increasing the project’s appropriation and borrowing authority to an aggregate $74.6 million for renovations, improvements and additions to Windermere Elementary School. The listed work included demolition of portions of the existing building, construction of a new addition, renovations, roof replacement and site improvements, including lighting and parking lot improvements.

The district’s project page lists the Permanent Building Committee, Arcadis as owner’s project manager, DRA Architects as architect and O&G Industries as construction manager.

Earlier district background said the project was designed to address educational needs, growing elementary enrollment and aging building conditions. A 2022 district release said voters approved the original $61 million renovate-to-new proposal by about 74 percent, with construction then anticipated to begin in 2024 and final completion projected for 2026.

A later district release said the state increased the reimbursement rate from 55.36 percent to 70 percent, saving Ellington taxpayers an estimated $9 million. The same release said the project involved crumbling-foundation concerns tied to pyrrhotite in a 2002 addition, while school officials had said there were no immediate safety concerns.