Board of Selectmen

New Canaan Softball Funding $40,000 in Improvements at Orchard, Water Tower Fields

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New Canaan Softball is making key improvements to its two playing fields at Waveny ahead of this spring season. Following approval this week from the Board of Selectmen, the nonprofit organization is funding the estimated $40,250 cost of extending the left and right field foul ball fences on both the Orchard and Water Tower Fields, as well as improving the pitcher’s warmup area at Orchard. “They want to replace existing worn-out fencing and posts as needed and then add approximately two sections on each field of 35 feet long on the back fence of the bench area,” Parks & Recreation Director John Howe told the selectmen at their regular meeting, held Tuesday at Town Hall and via videoconference. He continued: “What this will allow is the young kids when they overthrow first or third, the ball goes out of play. And that’s it.

Board of Selectmen

Town To Seek $300,000 State Grant To Help Fund New Playground at Waveny

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The town is seeking a $300,000 state grant to help fund the widely anticipated new playground at Waveny. As it is, there’s no playground in New Canaan’s largest and most-visited park. For years, the siblings of those playing sports on the fields there used an all-abilities adult fitness area as though it were a playground. 

Now, the town has replaced the fitness equipment in that area, and an accessible new playground is on the horizon, with a Poured-In-Place rubberized surface. A nonprofit group, the Friends of Waveny Playground, is fundraising for the project. On Tuesday, the Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 to allow the town to apply for a Small Town Economic Assistance Program or “STEAP” grant, administered by the state Office of Policy and Management.

Dionna Carlson

Town Approves ‘Third Annual Waveny Arts Festival’ for Sept. 28

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Town officials have approved use of Waveny for a hugely popular arts festival organized by a nonprofit organization. The 3rd Annual Waveny Park Arts Festival will be held Sunday, Sept. 28 following unanimous votes by the Parks & Recreation Commission and Board of Selectmen at their most recent meetings. The first year of the festival was a test to see how it would go “and it was a huge success,” according to Hilary Wittmann, executive director of the Carriage Barn Arts Center. 

“We did grow quite a bit last year, and everything went really smoothly,” Wittmann told the selectmen at their Feb. 25 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.

Board of Selectmen

Selectmen Approve $19,000 Purchase of ‘New Canaan Brick’ for Elm Street Bumpouts

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After approving the purchase of $20,000 in granite curbing for soon-to-come sidewalk “bumpouts” on Elm Street, officials this month authorized the purchase of about $19,000 in bricks for the project. The low bidder, the Bridgeport-based Homer C. Godfrey Co. ($18,404.75), came in with a far lower price than the town’s accustomed provider, Stamford-based Paramount Stone ($31,500), according to Public Works Director Tiger Mann. “I was shocked at Paramount’s price,” Mann told members of the Board of Selectmen at their Feb. 11 meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference.

Amy Murphy Carroll

Selectmen Put Off Vote on Redo of ‘Bridegroom’s Room’ at Waveny

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Saying they need more information, members of the Board of Selectmen this week put off voting on contracts for a future “bridegroom’s room” at Waveny House. Building officials came to the Board at its regular meeting Tuesday seeking approval for two contracts that would see a chandelier installed in a former IT Department office that the town now wants to convert into the groom’s room for weddings at Waveny. The room also would be painted, but the selectmen said they first need to understand how many lower wall electrical outlets are in it, and also what color it will be. “I don’t think we’re ready,” First Selectman Dionna Carlson said of voting on the contracts, totaling about $15,000. “I don’t think we’re ready for this one.