Playboard of Shirley

The Play Board of Shirley, which served as an arm of the Shirley Charitable Foundation, worked with the Shirley Educational Foundation, the Ayer Shirley PTO, Shirley's Safe Routes to School program, the Lura A. White Elementary School student council and school council, and other local charitable organizations and businesses to fundraise toward its goal of improving the Lura A. White Elementary (LAW) School playground, and to provide other safe, fun places and opportunities for play and improved health for children and adults. The organization earned Shirley the status of "Playful City USA" 10 years in a row. The application process for receiving the "Playful City USA" designation included a number of requirements, including having a committee set up to oversee play options for children, a complete audit of the town’s public play spaces, and holding at least one special free “Play Day” a year. The Annual Day of Play was held around the time of the Ayer Shirley Educational Foundation's Holdenwood Trail Run in late Sept. The event was free and all-volunteer, but did raise some money toward the Playboard's playground and Day of Play funds through raffles. If any group or organization would like to carry the mantle of the Playboard and its good works, please send us a note and we will transfer the administration of this page, which now only posts various kid-friendly events in our area.