Schools

Goodwin Elementary School Dedicates Playground 'For All Children'

A ceremony for the Joyce A. Crepeau Playground For All Children was held Wednesday night at the school's Open House.

dedicated its new playground Wednesday evening to , a well-known Mansfield resident and former Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) President, who passed away earlier this year.

The ceremony was held following the school's Open House, where in addition to teachers and classes, parents and students were introduced to a new play area featuring a basketball court, slide, sand pit and ball toss game.

Crepeau was said to be instrumental in raising the funds needed for the playground.

Find out what's happening in Mansfield-Storrswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“This woman could wrangle money out of any PTO bake sale we could imagine,” said Goodwin Principal Debra Adamczyk.

“She was committed to raising money to make sure that kids at Goodwin got a good play area. There is no other person whose name belongs on that playground other than Joyce Crepeau’s,” she said.

Find out what's happening in Mansfield-Storrswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The ceremony was attended by Crepeau’s husband John, her children Colleen and Austin, and Crepeau’s parents, Doris and Milo Smith.

Mansfield School Board Chairman Mark LaPlaca was also in attendance.

“What a joy it is to live in Mansfield at all times and particularly on nights like tonight when so many of you come out to spend time at our schools and to be here for the dedication,” he said.

“[Joyce] was a fearless and tireless advocate not only for her own children, but for all children in Mansfield.”

Maggie Judy, a close friend of the Crepeau family and executive board member of Goodwin’s PTO, spoke of the significance of the playground in Mansfield. 

“[Joyce] really wanted this to be a community place where everybody could gather. She thought that the one thing that children should do was to be happy and play. This is a really special thing I think for her and for her memory,” she said. 

“I know that she’s very happy that we remember her and for all her efforts. I just think that Goodwin and Mansfield is just a really lucky place to have had her.” 

Colleen and Austin Crepeau brought the ceremony to a close by planting a dogwood tree at the edge of the playground in remembrance of their mother. 

A memorial bench will also be installed with a plaque that reads: “Joyce A. Crepeau Playground For All Children.”

“This is awesome,” John Crepeau said. “She worked pretty hard for this."

Crepeau would like to thank Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc. for its support of the project.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here