Board Of Selectmen Endorses Pollinator Pathway Mural

GREENWICH, CT — Work on the colorful pollinator pathway mural on East Putnam Avenue across from Cardinal Stadium was halted in May after questions were raised by Representative Town Meeting members about the spending of funds by the Conservation Commission on the initiative.

Now, supporters of the mural are beginning the process of completing the important educational project.

On Wednesday, the Board of Selectman unanimously endorsed the completion of the mural as the RTM gets set to vote on the item when it reconvenes in September. The total cost of the project is $25,000, and the mural itself costs $13,750. It's being painted by artist Nelson Rivas. Myra Klockenbrink, a member of the Pollinators Pathway Committee on the town Conservation Commission, had the idea for the mural in Greenwich.

The Greenwich Botanical Center, through the Sustainable CT program, provided a $7,500 grant for the mural, which the community will match. Money was raised through crowdsourcing from 65 donors, who were able to raise all the funds needed to get to $25,000.

The RTM had questioned if they needed to approve the grant money as a gift to the town, so work on the mural was halted after it started a few months ago. Town code stipulates that the RTM must approve gifts over $5,000.

"We have the money all raised, ready to go. We have a mural begun and stopped once the issue of process came up, and we think that this is a highly effective way to communicate a highly important issue. We're here today to ask for your endorsements," said Patricia Sesto, Director of Environmental Affairs for the town of Greenwich.

According to the Pollinator Pathways Project website, "the installation of the mural illustrates the importance of native habitats and the crucial role of biodiversity for pollinating insects, birds and other wildlife."

"Our pollinators are in serious decline," Sesto told the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday. "How our ecosystem works is entirely dependent on pollinators. You'd be astounded at how many species are in our backyards, in our woodlands, alongside our roads that depend on pollinators in order to reproduce. It is our collective responsibility and certainly our individual responsibility of the Conservation Commission to educate our community on the necessity of pollinators and how we can do that."

Sesto noted that in Greenwich, about 26 percent of the land cover type is made up of various grasses. Another 31 percent is considered developed, impervious services, such as parking lots and buildings. Therefore, Sesto said, 57 percent of the landscape in Greenwich doesn't support pollinators.

"We need to get that message out and let people know the value of pathways," she said. "The mural is, I think, a fabulously innovative way for the Pollinator Pathways to get their message out... To go from a typical brochure or presentation to a mural that is in a very well traveled part of our community, it ties in beautifully with the high school. It is a piece that will get people to notice it and they'll wonder why it's there."

Posters and QR codes with more information on pollinator pathways will be made available at the bus stop near the mural.

"We have an education component, vibrancy within the community, it's utilizing a space that was just concrete previously," Sesto said. "It gives us a sense of place. On the visit CT website, it lists the towns who have murals as destinations. This is a resource for the community well beyond its underlying educational intent."

First Selectman Fred Camillo praised the project, calling it a "great message" and a "great look for the area."

He agreed with following an approval process.

"I think we're doing the right thing. I think the RTM is representative of the whole town and all 12 districts, so we [want to make sure we] don't have something questionable going up, something that may be political, and I don't see any politics in this at all. I respect that argument. I would say going forward absolutely that any type of art going up should be looked at by Planning & Zoning and the RTM, but this one here is really a plus not only for the neighborhood, but for the town."

Both Selectpersons Lauren Rabin and Jill Oberlander supported the mural as well, saying it would be an important place for the community.

The RTM is set to reconvene after their summer break on Sept. 27 at 8 p.m.