Around Town

Did You Hear … ?

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New Canaan readers voted by a 7-to-2 margin in favor of a proposal that would see the Pop Up Park in the final block of South Avenue in place continuously from Memorial Day to Labor Day. ***

Four longtime New Canaan friends and NCHS grads gathered to cheer on the Rams last Monday during the varsity boys basketball team’s Senior Night game vs. St. Joe’s. Pictured at left—standing in front local legend Wilky Gilmore’s jersey—are Tad Keating, Monroe Trout, Rob Lenihan and Matt Ready.

Around Town

VOTE: Advocates To Propose Keeping Pop Up Park in Place All Summer

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The creators of the Pop Up Park downtown will apply to keep the gathering space set up continuously from Memorial Day to Labor Day—a move they expect will further boost its usability and visibility while creating an opportunity to upgrade to sturdier furniture. Launched on a test basis in the summer of 2012 and evolving each successive year into a more regular fixture, the “park” occupies the final block of South Avenue. It includes tables, chairs, a water fountain and often special set-ups from local musicians, businesses, nonprofits and community groups that create family-friendly entertainment and activities. Last summer saw the Pop Up Park set up each Friday and broken down again late Sunday so that the block reverts to accommodate motor vehicle traffic for the workweek. It “brings people into the downtown area in a recreational manner,” said Keith Simpson, a longtime New Canaan resident who owns a landscape architectural design firm and serves on the Pop Up Park Committee.

News

With Success, Pop-Up Park Reaches Crossroads; Organizers Ask: Where Do We Go from Here?

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Launched on a test basis in the summer of 2012 and evolving each year since into a more regular fixture downtown, the Pop-Up Park at South and Elm—host to activities year-round including World Cup Weekend, family gatherings, outdoor concerts and showcases for local eateries—has garnered positive feedback from residents, businesses and town officials. On Wednesday night, the architects and volunteers who organize the popular park—noting that the labor required to set up and break down each summer weekend is not feasible long-term—turned to town planning officials for direction on whether the Pop-Up Park should become a summer-only, more frequent or even permanent feature of downtown New Canaan. “The original concept was, ‘Let’s try it and see if it works,’ ” Pop-Up Park Committee member Arnold Karp said at a special meeting of the Plan Implementation Committee, held in the Training Room at the New Canaan Police Department. “I think we’ve had three seasons to really test it out. It does work, so where do we take it from here?

Pop Up Park

Summer Theatre Pops In to Pop-up-Park

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On Saturday, June 28, Summer Theatre of New Canaan will prove that you CAN be two places at once! With three shows playing under the tent on Saturday, Summer Theatre will also bring its players to the pop-up park for photos, games and fun. 11:00 – 11:45 AM: Local singer/songwriter, Nick DePuy. Nick will also perform at first “Under The Stars” New Artists Summer Theatre Works series on On July 1,
12:00 – 12:30 PM: Merrilee Mannerly star of Merrilee Mannerly—a Magnificent New Musical
12:30 – 1:00 PM: The Little Mermaid’s own Sebastian and Flounder

Around Town

Where New Canaanites Congregate Downtown (on Weekdays)

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The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Baskin-Robbins, Connecticut Sandwich Co., Joe’s Pizza and Mackenzie’s. The Pop Up Park located between Morse Court and Elm from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening is a haven for NewCanaanites seeking to relax, perhaps enjoy a peaceful meal or coffee in the warmth of the summer months. The park is also home to several events for adults and children alike. Such activities as mini golf or events like the 2014 World Cup viewing party add another layer to this already family-friendly site. The Pop Up Park as it stands right now only pops up during weekends in the summer—a fact that for town resident Cobie Graber opens up the question of whether it should become a permanent fixture in the town center.