$4.5 Million In State Bonding Announced For Norwalk Park Improvements

NORWALK, CT — The State Bond Commission has approved a $4.5 million state investment in Norwalk's public parks, according to city officials.

The news announced Friday by Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff (D-Norwalk) and Mayor Harry Rilling.

According to a news release, investments include new synthetic baseball fields at Broad River Park, new fencing, lighting, benches and landscaping at Irving Freese Park, a new trash receptacle system at six town parks, and more improvements at the Ludlow Park, Veterans Memorial Park and the Brookside Elementary School fields.

Duff worked with Rilling and Norwalk parents to advocate for and secure the state funding after parents complained about the quality of the existing fields, the safety hazards they sometimes present and the inability to play games during certain weather conditions.

"We've got 90,000 people in Norwalk, and that means a lot of families with kids playing sports and using town parks on a regular basis," Duff said in a release. "Part of the joy of living in Connecticut and living in Norwalk is the very high quality of life that we have, and these state investments will help protect and improve that quality of life while simultaneously taking some of the responsibility of paying for this off of local residents."

Duff thanked Gov. Ned Lamont and the State Bond Commission, along with Senators Marty Looney, John Fonfara and Marilyn Moore, for paying attention to the needs of Connecticut residents.

"This funding reflects Governor Lamont and Senator Duff’s continued commitment to securing critical funding for the city of Norwalk's park system and prioritizes some of Norwalk's treasures, such as our parks and green spaces," Rilling said in a news release. "These funds will upgrade several of our sports fields, including the Broad River Synthetic Field baseball complex, and help beautify our landscapes by improving park amenities at Irving Freese Park. The funds will also replace playground equipment at Brookside Elementary School, Ludlow Park, and Veterans Park to increase safety and accessibility and enhance the city's beautification and sustainability initiatives by enhancing our recycling and garbage efforts at our parks."

A year ago, Norwalk unveiled plans to upgrade the baseball field complex at Broad River Park after parents complained issues such as hardened dirt in the infield, poor drainage and uncut grass posed a safety hazard to children.

Improved fields at Broad River would not only fix those conditions, but also reduce costly maintenance and allow for the possibility of regional tournaments on the fields, officials noted. The state bonding funds will pay for about half of those needed improvements.

The Irving Freese Park will receive about a half-million dollars' worth of new metal fencing, landscaping, lighting and benches, and the Ludlow Park, Brookside Elementary School and Veterans Memorial Park will each receive upgrades as well.

Additionally, $1 million in state funding has been allocated for the total replacement of Norwalk's garbage cans at Veterans Park, Calf Pasture Beach, Cranbury Park, Oyster Shell Park, Fodor Farm and Taylor Farm Dog Park, officials said.

The new trash receptacles will be located side-by-side and labeled for garbage, recyclables, and compost. The state funding will also pay for a new mini-packer garbage truck and a large grass mower, officials said.