Local Hiker Discusses State of Dividend Pond, Park

Activist and environmentalist Ed Chiucarello showed a video and gave a presentation on the current condition of Dividend Pond Trails and Archaeological District to the Town Council on Tuesday night.

"I have been spending a lot of time in Dividend Pond lately," he told the council.

Recently, Chiucarello has walked the park with  and spent three hours with . On Monday, he walked the area with town engineer Robert Alvarado.

During his speech, he talked about the economic benefits of improving all the trails in town and how it is an important feature used by realtors to bring in prospective homebuyers

"It is found a trail can generally bring one million dollars annually to a community depending on how the town embraces the trail," he said. "It will make Rocky Hill a more attractive and friendly place to live."

In his speech and a letter to volunteers, he thanked Councilors Nadine Bell and Barbara Surwilo, the town staff and manager and Rocky Hill Patch for their support.

"I think it is a treasure," Surwilo said at the council meeting. "You can almost be transported back in time. All the history and efforts are terrific."

In a recent interview, Parks and Recreation Director Lisa M. Zerio said that she is planning to put money in her budget for improvements to signage at Dividend Park.

"The cost would be nominal," she said.

Zerio also planned to have town crews make improvements to the parking lot.

"Regarding the mulch pile if we are planning to create an official parking area for the park, it would be my hopes that that pile can be relocated at that time," she said in an email to Patch.

Cleanup efforts will continue this weekend, as resident Peter Maxwell will be removing brush from the hollow at the Dividend Brook Industrial Archaeological District on Saturday. Anyone interested in helping is asked to be at the state archaeological preserve at 9 a.m.

Chiucarello, who is working with Zerio and the town staff, will lead anyone in interested in a hike through Quarry Park on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Hikers are asked to meet at the parking lot for Quarry Park on Old Main St. next to the Duke of Cumberland Inn and Matteson Ave. Chiucarello is expected to lead hikes at Bulkeley Park and the Great Meadows in the near future.

Anyone interested in helping with the Dividend Park cleanup or learning about future hikes is asked to contact Chiucarello, by emailing him at lexarded@cox.net.