Family Donates $20K To Darien For Cherry Lawn Park Gazebo Improvements

DARIEN, CT — When Bill Dordelman and his three sisters were growing up in Darien on Birch Road, they'd often head on over to Cherry Lawn Park and skate on the pond during the winter. Their father, also named Bill, was often there, too, teaching his kids how to skate.

The Dordelmans have lived in Darien for about 57 years. Bill and his wife, Barbara, moved to Darien in the mid-1960s. Bill worked for General Foods in White Plains, N.Y., for years. The couple raised their children in town.

Bill retired in 2010, and died on Dec. 19, 2020, at the age of 80. Barbara still lives in the same house.

Since Bill died during the depths of the COVID-19 pandemic, the family had a small private gathering with the intention of holding a funeral at a later date. But by the time that was possible, too much time had passed, and the family began to think of other ways to honor their father.

Cherry Lawn Park came up.

"We got to thinking about what might we be able to do where we could affix the memory of his life to a project. We thought doing something around town would be great, because so much of his life was being there," Bill told Patch this week, adding that his sister grew up with Pam Gery, Darien Parks and Recreation director. The two got in touch.

Barbara and her children Bill, Dorothy Pearson, Lori Gantt and Patti Ripperger all decided to donate $20,000 to the town for the restoration of the park's gazebo with a plaque in Bill's memory. At the same time, the town was hoping to do some renovation work at the park.

"Our interests aligned," Bill said.

On Tuesday night, the Darien Board of Selectmen unanimously approved the donation so work can begin.

"We're very, very appreciative of their generosity and I'm glad there's a plaque," Darien First Selectman Monica McNally said following the vote.

Selectman Jon Zagrodzky echoed those sentiments.

"I appreciate this kind of generosity. Just another shoutout to the Dordelman family for doing something like this. We love that, and it points again to what a great town this is in terms of volunteers in both time and money," he said.

The rooted ADA handicap ramp will be replaced, along with the ADA handrails. Rotted floorboards will be replaced as needed, and Parks and Rec. employees will paint the structure at the end. The roof was recently replaced.

The lowest project bid of $17,500 has been received by the town. Leftover money will be used to buy the plaque.

"The Parks & Recreation Commission felt a strong historical bond with the existing gazebo and we are thrilled that the Dordelman family donation will support its restoration," Gery told Patch. "The Cherry Lawn Park gazebo is well-loved by all and with the stunning new roof and upcoming improvements, it will be back to serve as the charming focal point of the park. Visitors of the park can sit peacefully and indulge in the views of the pond all while being protected from the elements of weather."

The 27.5 acre site off Brookside Road was once the Cherry Lawn School.

The school closed in the early 1970s, and the park was born.

"It basically became — the kids of the surrounding neighborhoods — it became our playground. There was plenty of space, plenty of things to do. In particular, there's a great pond there which was the site of many great hockey games," Bill said.

There are tennis/pickleball courts at the park, a basketball court, community gardens, playground area, natural pond, the gazebo, walking trails, a multi-use field, a softball field, several picnic areas and a public restroom.

The park is also home to the Darien Nature Center.

Bill, who lives in Florida now, said he's looking forward to coming back to Darien to see the finished work and the plaque in his father's memory.

"It's one of those things where you have the ability to continue to remember him, as opposed to just a service," Bill said. "This is something other people from around town will get to enjoy, and the memory of his name has found a worthy home to make other people happy."

Darien Parks and Recreation hopes the work can be completed by spring.