Darien Nature Center To Make Property Improvements

DARIEN, CT — The Darien Nature Center will make improvements to their property at 120 Brookside Road following approval from the Board of Selectmen.

Per their building lease, the nature center has to advise the board of upcoming projects, and the selectmen signed off on the improvement work Monday night.

The nature center is planning to repair a walkway and improve curbing in front of the building, and rebuild and reinstall the pergola in the rear, according to First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky, who visited the center on Monday.

"If you come up to the traffic circle and you're standing in front of the nature center, they've got some stonework and some curbs that are in pretty rough shape. They're actually missing some cutouts for wheelchair access," Zagrodzky said, noting there's curbing toward the parking lot that isn't needed. "The first thing they want to do is get all that cleaned up. They've got some bluestone pavers they'll replace that with, they'll clean up the curbs and put in cutouts, and it'll sharpen up the front of the building quite a bit."

About two years ago, the pergola behind the building was removed.

"Since then, they've redone that back patio, they've cleaned up the drainage problems," Zagrodzky said. "What they're ready to do now is to reinstall the pergola."

The two projects will cost approximately $60,000, and they'll be paid for using funds from the nature center's reserves, Darien Nature Executive Director Angela Whitford said in an email to the Board of Selectmen.

"We do not expect the town of Darien to contribute to these projects now or in the future, as our reserve funds are more than sufficient to cover the costs," Whitford said.

Both projects will be completed by local contractors, Whitford added, "a testament to our commitment to community involvement."

Whitford noted the projects are expected to take two to three weeks to complete. Weather permitting, the work will be done during the nature center's closure in August.

Monday's Board of Selectmen meeting is available to watch on demand on Darien TV79.