Town Approves Funds To Repaint the Historic ‘Gores Pavilion’ at Irwin

Town officials this month approved funds to power-wash and repaint the exterior of a historic structure in Irwin Park. The Gores Pavilion—designed by Harvard Five architect Landis Gores as a winter lodge and summer pool house—was dedicated in 1960 at a grand surprise party arranged by Philip Johnson in honor of Gores himself. During their June 3 meeting, members of the Board of Selectmen approved an $8,690 contract with a Stamford company to power-wash, scrape, prepare and paint the building’s exterior. 

The building was painted about eight years ago, according to Bill Oestmann, superintendent of buildings in the New Canaan Department of Public Works. “It requires overall maintenance on the painting end because of the type of materials that are on that building,” Oestmann said during the Board’s regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “And it’s historic in nature, so we have to keep up with the maintenance on it.

Town Approves Contracts for Fencing Upgrades at Mead, Saxe

Town officials last week approved a pair of contracts for sports facility fencing at Mead Park and Saxe Middle School. The Board of Selectmen during its regular meeting June 3 approved about $82,000 in contracts for fencing at the Mead Park pickleball courts and large baseball field, as well as a replacement fence at the Saxe baseball field near the YMCA and South Avenue. A major part of the projects is upgrading the fence gauge from nine millimeter to six millimeter, according to Superintendent of Parks Ryan Restivo. 

“This change provides a thicker, more durable coated material that will enhance longevity and durability of the new fencing installations,” Restivo told the selectmen during their regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the contracts with New Canaan-based Gannon Rustic Fence ($14,680) and P&C Fence of Bridgeport ($67,390). The fencing at the Mead pickleball courts is failing, Restivo said, and two baseball fences—the perimeter at Mead Park’s large field and the backstop and dugout at Saxe—both need replacement.

Selectmen Approve Furniture Contract for Waveny House Wedding Rooms

Furniture will be put into the brides’ and grooms’ rooms at Waveny House as preparations are made for what officials are calling an “off the charts” wedding schedule. On Tuesday, the Board of Selectmen approved a $14,299.10 contract with Raymour & Flanigan to furnish Waveny House’s wedding rooms.

“We’ve done substantial updates on these rooms, including painting them a nice cashmere color,” Parks & Recreation Director John Howe told the selectmen at their regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “The next step is to get furniture in them.”

First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the contract. The project is covered in the bride and groom rooms update section of the town’s budget. Parks & Recreation Office Manager Beatrice Watkins detailed the process of finalizing the contract.

Town To Replace East Avenue Sidewalks

Town officials are planning to replace all sidewalks on East Avenue, starting downtown at Main Street and running east all the way to Route 123. The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday approved a $34,500 contract with a Bridgeport-based company to survey and design the sidewalks. The overall project itself is projected to cost about $1.1 million, according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann. 

There are sidewalks on both sides of East Avenue running east from the downtown to Summer Street, and then it’s only on the north side to Route 123/New Norwalk Road, Mann said. “We’re looking to design it in whole and then look to piece it out, the thought being that we’ll likely do from Cherry Street to Main Street since that’s the closest to the downtown, and then work our way out,” he said during the regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. “And the thought is that at present we might look for a grant to take care of the stretch from Cherry to New Norwalk Road.”

Specifically, Mann said, the town would seek a “Local Transportation Capital Improvement Program” or “LOTCIP” grant.