Replacing 23-year-old playground; Music theme inspired by the nearby Perinton Amphitheater.
Town Supervisor Ciaran Hanna, Town Clerk Janelle Reed, and the Perinton Town Board were joined by Recreation & Parks staff, community partners, and local families today to officially cut the ribbon on the new playground at Center Park West. The music-themed play space welcomes children of all ages and abilities and reflects the Town’s ongoing investment in revitalizing public parks.
Located in Center Park West beside the Perinton Community Center and Amphitheater, the new playground replaces a 23-year-old structure and brings modern, inclusive play features to one of Perinton’s most visited parks. The new location, closer to parking, restrooms, and picnic shelters, makes it more accessible and convenient for families.
Timed perfectly for summer fun, the new playground opens just ahead of the Center Stage Concert Series, free Sunday evening concerts at the Perinton Amphitheater, kicking off on June 29th.
“This new playground is built for today’s families. It is thoughtfully designed with safety, accessibility, and imagination in mind,” said Hanna. “Whether you’re here for a concert, a soccer game, or just a day at the park, it reflects our commitment to revitalizing Perinton’s playgrounds, listening to our residents, and ensuring that all children have access to fun, engaging places to play for years to come. And with the Center Stage Concert Series kicking off June 29 at the Amphitheater, it couldn’t have opened at a better time.”
As part of the design process, the Town conducted a community survey in 2023 to gather resident feedback. Residents voiced support for inclusive playground elements that meet a wide range of developmental and physical needs. That feedback helped guide the layout and features of the new playground, ensuring it would serve children of all abilities.
Designed by Parkitects and built using Landscape Structures equipment, an industry leader in inclusive and durable play systems, this is the first Perinton playground to feature Landscape Structures components.
“Center Park West is one of our most active parks, especially in the summer,” said Recreation & Parks Commissioner Jeff Nutting. “This new playground brings a thoughtful, inclusive design to a space already well-used by families. It’s just one example of how we’re reinvesting in our parks with long-term improvements guided by resident feedback.”
Set across two tiers and connected by ADA-accessible sidewalks, the 4,000-square-foot playground takes advantage of the park’s natural hillside. Its music-themed features were inspired by the nearby Perinton Amphitheater, enhancing the park’s identity as a hub for recreation, music, and community.
Key Playground Features Include:
• We-Go-Round: fully wheelchair accessible with wheelchair bays and seated benches
• Musical hillside: built-in piano keys, and instruments
• Play Odyssey Tower: featuring two 10-foot slides
• Rollerslide, climbing ropes, interactive ground-level elements
• Accessible surfacing and low-maintenance turf
The ribbon cutting celebration included free ice cream and live music, generously provided by the Friends of Perinton Recreation & Parks.
Town Supervisor Ciaran Hanna also announced that this new playground marks the first phase of improvements at Center Park West. The Town plans to expand the play area by removing the old playground structure and pursuing additional grant funding to add swings and other amenities. There are also plans to add a communication board. These enhancements reflect the Town’s long-term vision to create inclusive, accessible, and thoughtfully designed recreational spaces that grow with the needs of the community.
The $620,000 project was identified in the Town’s Capital Improvement Plan as part of its 20–25 year replacement cycle for Perinton’s eight municipal playgrounds.
About Center Park West:
Center Park West is accessed from Ayrault Road and consists of approximately 49 acres adjacent to the Perinton Community Center. It is one of the Town’s most active parks, particularly for youth soccer, hosting fields for multiple age groups from spring through fall. The park connects directly to the RS&E Trolley Trail, allowing off-road pedestrian and bike access to the Village of Fairport.
