If all goes according to plan, Cape kids will be playing on new playgrounds by the fall of 2002.

The Town Council Monday night approved a master plan for the community's playgrounds, and authorized use of $150,000 bonded funds toward the first phases of renovating the Pond Cove School and Cape Elizabeth Middle School playgrounds.

That funding, however, is contingent upon the Playground Committee's ability to raise the balance of necessary funding -- $53,000 -- by the end of next year.

Tina Harnden, a member of the Playground Committee, presented the committee's report to the council. The committee was established by the council and began meeting 15 months ago.

Absent from immediate construction plans, but still part of the master plan, is a new playground for Fort Williams Park.

"Fort Williams very much needs to be done, and we will focus on that for the future, but we felt it was imperative that we got moving on the school playgrounds immediately since they are in quite serious disrepair," Harnden said.

She said that since the bond money would need to be used by the end of 2002, the committee did not believe the additional funding could be raised for all three playgrounds.

Estimated cost for all three projects is $478,700, she said. The largest and most costly project, the renovation of the playgrounds at Pond Cove School, comes to $252,600; renovation of the Middle School playground is estimated at $116,000; and, a new playground at Fort Williams is estimated at $89,000, Harnden said. Additional fees and services are estimated at $21,000.

The end cost is a pared-down version of original plans. Potential costs of the projects convinced the committee to eliminate plans for landscaping and benches at all three sites; a shade structure and outdoor classroom space at Pond Cove; a retaining wall at the Middle School; and, rubberized material on the playground surfaces. The committee is recommending wood chips or sand as alternatives.

While these amenities have been deferred to a "wish list," Harnden did have more to say about the wish for an outdoor classroom. Using space outside of the children's section of the Thomas Memorial Library, the classroom would be available during playground time, school time, and for library programs. "The classroom space was originally intended to serve all members of the community," Harnden said. The trustees are expected to discuss the idea at their meeting later this month, possibly collaborating with the Garden Club as well.

Plans for the Pond Cove and Middle School playgrounds have been broken into phases -- three phases for Pond Cove and two for the Middle School. However most children will believe they are playing on new playgrounds by fall 2002 when the first phases are complete at both schools.

Plans are to begin work during the summer of 2002. At Pond Cove, the upper playground would be cordoned off while the field and upper playground would still be available. All work would take place during the summer.

While no appreciable renovation will take place until next summer, Harnden said the committee would like to upgrade the Middle School playground this summer by adding swings. Some standing equipment might be added to the Pond Cove playground, but the committee will need to agree on what additions would be feasible in light of impending renovation.

A core group of the Playground Committee has agreed to continue to work on raising additional funds, Harnden said. The Middle School and Fort Williams playgrounds, because their location attracts a non-school population, might be eligible for a $25,000 grant from the State Office of Land and Water Conservation. The fund-raising goal of $3,000 set by the Pond Cove Parent Association was met with that group's "Pond Cove Challenge" road race. "A lot of money needs to be raised," Harnden said.