'Nothing short of amazing'

'Nothing short of amazing'

Members of Templeton community gather for dedication of Wilbur Pajari Memorial Playground at Gilman Waite Field
Doneen Durling
News Staff Writer

Brook Lyons, Jake Stephens and Peyton Lyons spin on the new ten spin at the Wilbur Pajari Memorial Playground at Gilman Waite Field in Baldwinville, Saturday.


TEMPLETON — Members of the community gathered Saturday to celebrate the newly completed Wilbur Pajari Memorial Playground at Gilman Waite Field with a ribbon cutting and the unveiling of a sign dedicated to a local teen’s memory.

“This playground is another step forward in the Gilman Waite Field expansion,” said Alan Mayor, superintendent of the town’s Cemetery and Parks Department. “This project is truly a community project. It was done primarily with volunteers ... It goes to show what a community can accomplish.”


The Gilman Waite improvement and expansion project began several years ago, with $150,000 of the funding Mr. Pajari left to the town put toward the effort. Mr. Mayo said many people with various areas of expertise have lent their efforts to the project.

State Sen. Stephen Brewer of Barre called Gilman Waite Field and the playground a “little gem,” made possible “because of a generous benefactor, Mr. Pajari, and because of just plain good people.”

“Be thankful for this community,” he said. “I am proud of you.”

State Rep. Denise Andrews of Orange echoed the senator’s sentiment.

“I don’t see enough days where everyone is smiling and enjoying each other’s company,” she said. “It is time we get back to that in our towns, where we enjoy the blessings we have and take time every day to notice that with others.”

Selectman Kenn Robinson said the playground will provide an outlet for local youngsters to get outdoors and connect with each other.

“They can get outside and enjoy the fresh air with one another,” he said. “For many of us, the first place we ever learned social skills and how to treat one another was on the playground. I think that having a great place where the children of the community can come together and be active is a really great thing for the town.”

On behalf of the entire Board of Selectmen, Mr. Robinson thanked all who worked to make the playground a reality.

Joshua Koziol, chairman of the Templeton Recreation Committee, said the playground is just a small piece of what the board is trying to bring to the community. A Baldwinville native, he recalled that while growing up he went to the park every day.

“It looked nothing like this,” he said. “What has happened here with the people that began this project is nothing short of amazing ... People come out and want to give back to the community that one time gave so much to them.”

Mr. Koziol also recalled Mr. Pajari, a man who enjoyed the great outdoors and was always willing to help others.

“He was supportive of the children in town, and when he passed on, he was kind enough to leave his property to the town,” Mr. Koziol said. “That is where some of the funding came for this project. We would like to take this time to thank Mr. Pajari and dedicate this playground. It is the Wilbur Pajari Memorial Playground, and we would like to dedicate it to the town of Templeton.”

Narragansett Middle School Principal Peter Cushing spoke before the dedication of a ten spin at the playground in memory of local student Jonathan Aukstikalnis.

“Just about two years ago, Narragansett suffered a tragedy that is hard to put into words,” Mr. Cushing said. “When you lose a child, you can’t fathom the pain. He had a tremendous smile. He had a tremendous spirit. He was a tremendous young man.”

Mr. Cushing said he had never seen community come together as it did after Jonathan’s death.

“The way people rallied around the Aukstikalnis family and Jonathan’s memory, and the strength of the Aukstikalnis family — it was like a beacon of hope for all that is wrong with the world,” he said.

Mr. Cushing said he hopes the playground will bring joy to the community for decades to come.