The closing of a day care center in Ferry Village may lead to the creation of a “pocket park” for families with young children.

The South Portland City Council reviewed a proposal Monday night to turn a former school playground off Mosher Street into a neighborhood park and also take possession of play equipment located there.

At issue is the future of the old Hutchins School property, now that a Head Start program is no longer using the city-owned building or playground.

The nonprofit program was operated by the Portland-based People’s Regional Opportunity Program, or PROP, and primarily funded by the federal government.

PROP closed the subsidized daycare in May 2008 due to declining enrollment. It offered to donate the play equipment, or playscape, which is 3 years old and worth about $37,000.

The Ferry Village Neighborhood Conservation Association has recommended to the council that the school’s tiny playground be used as a pocket park.

The council also discussed briefly getting an appraisal of the former school building for resale to private owners for redevelopment.

The council seemed to agree that the former school building, constructed in the 1800s, should be sold. The old Hutchins School is a two-story wood building with large windows and soft pine floors. It is tucked in a densely settled neighborhood off Pine Street.

The building and property have been assessed by the city for $327,000. Mayor Tom Blake advised that city staff first check with all departments to make sure the city has no use for it.

City Manager Jim Gailey explained that the school building is drafty. In order to save money, the heating and water have been shut off since PROP moved out, though a fire protection system is in place.

Gailey also explained that city workers do not want to dismantle and move the play equipment to another city park, because it is safer to keep the structure where it is and in one piece. There are no other playscapes in South Portland specifically for children under 5 years old.

Councilor Jim Soule said that if the city converts the playground into a park, there should be secure fencing around the property.

The playground is fenced in on three sides, but the condition of the fence is not known.

Councilor Patti Smith said she would like the council to learn how the Public Works Department plans to maintain the playground as a park. She also wants to hear more about the role the Ferry Village Neighborhood Association has offered to play in helping to maintain a park.

Councilor Linda Boudreau said she wants public works staff to assess what needs to be done to the playground to bring it up to city standards. Boudreau, who used to take her granddaughter to the playground, said the playground was never regularly maintained.

Boudreau believes there may be an old swing set on the lot, as well as some landscaping problems that need immediate attention. She said she wants to know the costs for fixing up the park.

Blake said he also has taken his grandchildren to the park several times. He said he supports the city using the playground as a park, but agreed that it needs to be fixed up. It shouldn’t be used by the public until work is done on it, he said.

Gailey said the council likely will need to hear from public works staff at another workshop to learn the costs for updating the park. Blake said he also would like to get the results of the building appraisal at a future meeting. At that point, the council will decide its course of action.

Although the tax assessor’s records show the school building was constructed in 1900, local historian Kathy DiPhilippo said her research shows the building first opened in the 1860s as the Pleasant Street School.

It was later renamed after Hattie Hutchins, who taught in South Portland schools for more than 50 years. Hutchins died in 1930.