A Town of Norwood committee spent much of its meeting weighing whether to fund several school playground and recreation projects that members estimate together could cost about $750,000.

Committee members said they wanted a clearer picture of priorities before committing funds. Several members argued that playgrounds are important public-health and recreation investments and pointed to other towns where preservation-style funds have covered playground work. Others voiced concern that asking parents and PTAs to raise money while the committee subsidizes some projects would be unfair and that large projects should not be advanced without a plan for long-term maintenance.

Members identified several open questions the committee wants answered before a decision: which projects the school department considers urgent, how the town’s Department of Public Works would be involved in maintenance, and which parts of each proposal are eligible under the committee’s funding rules. The group agreed to meet with the school committee, the town manager and DPW staff so those departments can clarify priorities and maintenance responsibilities.

Joe Greeley was identified in the meeting as the representative for the Callahan School and the Prescott playground projects; committee members said they will meet with him and with school representatives to review design, urgency and cost estimates. Members also said they want proponents to show whether they can raise part of the money themselves (matching funds) and to explain any alternative funding sources.

A number of committee members pressed for a phased or multi-year program approach, so that projects could be prioritized and funded over time rather than committing the entire estimate at once. The committee will schedule a follow-up meeting with the town manager and school staff and will request detailed cost breakdowns and maintenance plans from the projects’ proponents.

Next steps: the committee asked staff to arrange a meeting with school and DPW officials and to request more detailed budget and maintenance information from proponents before the committee advances any funding recommendations.