Fate Of Controversial Silver Sands Park Project Decided

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

MILFORD, CT – Despite widespread opposition from Milford legislators and the mayor the state Bond Commission Wednesday overwhelmingly approved spending $9,107,769 for renovations at Silver Sands State Park.

The funding will be used to construct a bath house building, lifeguard and staff office, concession building, and a maintenance facility.

Two members of the commission voted against the project, but the vote was overwhelmingly in favor.

Governor Dannel Malloy, a member of the Bond Commission, who voted in favor, said he was aware of the opposition but said, “This is a state park as opposed to a municipal park.”

Malloy said Silver Sands “doesn’t’ have appropriate facilities,” adding that without bathrooms at the park “it is difficult to change babies there.”

The vote in favor came a day after a slew of Milford officials held a press conference at the park to implore the Bond Commission to vote against the project.

“No one wants this project and the state of Connecticut cannot afford it,” Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford, said at the press conference.

“Milford residents have been unified and vocal in their opposition to the buildout of Silver Sands,” Slossberg added. “They have raised numerous concerns about the project, but those concerns have not been resolved, and in many cases never acknowledged.”

She suggested the money would be better spent on education or social services or a different infrastructure project.

Slossberg was joined at the press conference by Milford Mayor Ben Blake, Milford area state Reps. Kim Rose, Pam Staneski and Charlie Ferraro and local Milford residents in opposition to the project.

“The priorities up in Hartford are not the same priorities that we have locally,” Blake said.

The Milford mayor said it is his city’s responsibility to provide police and fire personnel to monitor the beach. “We have put a lot of our resources and will continue to do it because it is a special part of our city,” Blake said.

“At the same time we do not think the priorities coming from Hartford to build out this beautiful, pristine park are right,” Blake added.

Blake noted that in the past week the city of Milford found out that it would have its municipal grant allotment for the current fiscal year cut by nearly $2 million to make up for hole in the adopted budget.

“There are real financial concerns that are going on across the state and to put $9-$10 million into something the city of Milford does not have the buy in for just does not seem prudent at this time,” Blake said.

Rep. Rose echoed Slossberg’s and Blake’s comments.

“I along with countless residents and municipal leaders have voiced concern over this project’s potential negative effect on the environment, local community and public’s safety,” Rose said.

At the Bond Commission meeting, Malloy said that state officials are “ready, willing and able to work with the community on traffic challenges” the Silver Sands improvements will bring.

Photo credit: CT DEEP