Government

Parks & Rec Approves Design for New ‘Waveny Playground’

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The Parks & Recreation Commission on Wednesday night voted unanimously in favor of the proposed design and layout of a widely anticipated playground at Waveny. Funded by private donors, the town and a state grant, the Waveny Playground will be set in a rectangle in the same area the new fitness area at the park, across the lot from the soccer fields and Orchard softball field. To be constructed next spring, the new playground will feature a main component that incorporates slides, climbing objects, sensory objects, swings, railings, musical instruments and more, according to Superintendent of Parks Ryan Restivo, who presented to the Commission with members of the Waveny Playground Committee. “It creates a little bit of everything to be inclusive,” Restivo said at Parks & Rec’s regular meeting, held at Lapham Center and via videoconference. Waveny Playground Committee members are Monica Capela, Lauren Connolly Nussbaum, Hilary Ormond and Meredith Tobitsch.

Government

Town Approves Contracts for Fencing Upgrades at Mead, Saxe

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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.

Government

Town Purchasing Four Water Bottle Fillers for Parks, NCHS Track

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Town officials on Tuesday approved about $14,000 to purchase four water fountain bottle fillers. 

The Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 in favor of a contract with an Oakmont, Pa.-based company to purchase the Murdock-brand machines. Two of them will be replacement installations, at Mead Park Playground and upper trail entrance to Irwin Park, while two others will be new installations, at the New Canaan High School track and upcoming Waveny Park Playground with a nearby outdoor fitness area, according to Superintendent of Parks Ryan Restivo. The two existing machines are about 10 to 15 years old, he said at the selectmen’s regular meeting, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. 

“The unit at Irwin Park will have a pet bowl feature on it, similar to the one that’s installed at the dog park now,” Restivo said. First Selectman Dionna Carlson and Selectmen Steve Karl and Amy Murphy Carroll voted 3-0 in favor of the $13,942 contract with Equiparts Corp. The selectmen asked whether the cost includes installation (no, and in some cases a live water tap is needed, which requires two contractors including an excavator), whether funds are allocated for the tap (yes), how long these machines should last (20 years) and whether they’ll look good (yes they’re stainless steel and in color).

Government

Fitness Stations at Waveny To Be Removed Next Month, Making Way for New Equipment

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The broken and outdated equipment in a fitness area located on a grassy, tree-shaded island across the Orchard Field parking lot in Waveny will be removed next month, officials say. Set for a widely anticipated replacement, the 60-by-60-foot all-abilities fitness area often draws children who mistake it for playground equipment, according to Selectman Amy Murphy Carroll. “Multiple times, men and women are trying to use it, and it’s swarmed by kids,” Murphy Carroll said during Tuesday’s regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen, held at Town Hall and via videoconference. 

She added that no one is blaming the kids for doing so. “I know the actual equipment has little signs on it, which every kid in the world would ignore,” Murphy Carroll said. “And the parents probably don’t even see it, to be fair.

News

Waveny Soon to Debut New Fitness Area, New Playground Planned for Next Summer

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The New Canaanite 2024 Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Karp Associates. The construction of a widely anticipated addition to one of New Canaan’s most popular parks is underway. 

Earlier this year, town officials approved a $100,000 contract for the installation of a new fitness area in Waveny Park. 

The new fitness equipment, dubbed ‘The Gladiator’ by its manufacturer, is geared for people ages 13 and up, according to Ryan Restivo, assistant superintendent of the New Canaan Parks Department. 

It will have 12 stations including a larger component called “Thrive 250.” 

According to Restivo, the Thrive 250 has special QR code signs which, when using a phone to scan, provide a link to fitness instructions and workout plans. 

“There’s some step-by-step online workouts, so that’s a really cool feature,” Restivo said. 

The fitness area is to be resurfaced with a material called ‘Poured-in-Place Surfacing’ which Restivo said “is the best ADA compliant surfacing.” 

The Poured-in-Place Surfacing is what was used in the hugely successful and popular Mead Park Playground, he said. (Restivo is working with a committee that includes Monica Capela, who co-founded the Friends of Mead Park Playground with Allyson Mahoney, as well as Lauren Connolly Nussbaum and Hilary Ormond.)

“It’s like a spongy material and it comes in all different colors,” Restivo said of the surface. “The color that we chose was a tan and black and it blends in well with the site.” 

This type of surfacing has many advantages, Restivo said. 

“It’s the number one accessible surface, it’s safe and durable, it’s shock absorbent for fall protection, and it’s low maintenance and aesthetically pleasing, he said. This new material replaces the woodchips used in the old fitness area. 

The Parks Department has already received the new fitness equipment but due to minor issues on the part of the manufacturers, the installation has been slightly delayed. 

“One of the posts had a manufacturer issue,” Restivo said.