Greenwich Looks To Revitalize Downtown Plaza, Honor President Bush With Statue

GREENWICH, CT — As part of a plan to revitalize Veterans Plaza Park in front of Restoration Hardware in downtown Greenwich, the town is looking to honor one of its native sons and the 41st president of the United States, George H.W. Bush.

First Selectman Fred Camillo said during the Board of Selectmen meeting Friday that Greenwich is seeking to erect a statue in Bush's honor.

There is also a desire to rededicate the plaza area and "spruce it up," Camillo said. The project, which was first mentioned last July, would add various water features and lighting in front of the old post office, which is now Restoration Hardware, on Greenwich Avenue next to Arch Street.

Lighting would be installed to illuminate the World War 1 monument and nearby flagpole. The monument is a 50-foot obelisk that sits in front of Restoration Hardware.

An old water fountain that hasn't been used in years is already in place.

"This is long overdue," Camillo said, noting there have already been several informal meetings among residents and town volunteers to get the process of coming up with a proposal started. "We want to take this time to not only honor President Bush, but honor all of our veterans and really enhance that area there."

There has been support from veterans groups in town, Camillo said, citing the Cos Cob VFW, American Legion and Byram Veterans Association.

"This will come to the RTM (Representative Town Meeting) in the form of a gift that would be fully funded," Camillo added. "There won't be any hit to the budget."

The RTM, which is the town's legislatie body, is currently on a summer break and will return in September. Camillo did not specify a timeline for the project.

Bush spent his formative years in Greenwich when his father, Prescott Bush, was a U.S. Senator from Connecticut. He attended Greenwich Country Day School, and also met his wife of 73 years, the late Barbara Bush, at a dance in town.

When Bush turned 18, he enlisted in the Navy and eventually flew 58 combat missions during World War II, his official White House biography says.

During one mission over the Pacific Ocean, Bush was shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft fire and he was rescued from the water by a U.S. submarine, according to his bio. Bush was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in action.

Bush died on Nov. 30, 2018 at the age of 94. He would have turned 100 on June 12.

"Not many towns in America can say they had a president grow up in their town," Camillo said. "He served our country in so many different roles."

Camillo mentioned the idea for the Bush statue during a discussion about elevating the First Selectman's Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities and renaming it to the Board of Selectmen ADA and Advocacy Committee of People with Disabilities.

The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by Bush.

The law prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the general public. The law ensures that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.

Greenwich Avenue is currently out of compliance with the ADA, so the town is seeking improvements at eight intersections along the iconic stretch of roadway.

The town is hoping to repave Greenwich Avenue in the fall or spring 2025. ADA deficiencies must be addressed when reconstructing sidewalks or repaving.

Aside from being near some of Greenwich's war monuments, the placement of a Bush statue in the downtown area would be very appropriate, according to Camillo.

"We're going to get this done. We have to get this done," Camillo said of bringing the Avenue into compliance. "The fact that [Bush] was the president who signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law in 1990, he'll be overlooking an intersection that will be ADA compliant. What a great spot to put it."