Newtown Moves Forward With $1.67M Community Center Project

NEWTOWN, CT — Plans for a new splash pad and storage facility at the Newtown Community Center are moving forward after the Board of Selectmen approved a contractor for the roughly $1.67 million project.

During its Aug. 3 meeting, the board unanimously approved BMP as the contractor for the Newtown Community Center Splash Pad and Storage Facility project.

The project has $1,673,589 available through a combination of a $600,000 state grant, Community Center funds, donations and program revenue, according to meeting minutes. Officials said the funding leaves a contingency of about $41,300.

In addition to the splash pad, the project calls for a nearly 5,000-square-foot storage and mechanical building that will house water-treatment equipment and provide storage space needed by the Community Center.

Officials said most of the project's cost is associated with site work, splash pad equipment, utilities and the building's mechanical systems.

The splash pad will use a water-recycling system to minimize water consumption and is not expected to require additional staffing or maintenance beyond existing personnel, according to the minutes.

Art Norton and Community Center Director Matt Ariniello presented the contractor recommendation to the board. Ariniello emphasized that the project is being funded through grants, donations and Community Center revenues rather than current taxpayer dollars.

The Public Building and Site Commission's ad hoc committee, consisting of Kristian Otten and Tom Mezzanotte, participated in the contractor selection process. The project had also previously gone through the town's capital improvement process without changes to its budget.