2009

Posted by Bob on August 6, 2009 under Daily Blogs | 10 Comments to Read

Gunntown before the destruction of the meadow

Much attention was given last night to the concept of a passive park at the Gunntown property. Representatives from the Committee for a Cultural Environmental Center at Gunntown and the Naugatuck Land Trust provided the Borough Board a summary of a conservation easement pursuant to discussion during the July meeting of the Board of Mayor and Burgesses.

The plan proposes the conveyance of an easement to a legal entity like the Naugatuck Land Trust which would serve to conserve the property and restrict use to passive activities. Such an easement would be negotiated between the grantor, in this case the Borough of Naugatuck; and the grantee, a legal entity with an interest in assuring compliance. The grantor, which would be Naugatuck, retains ownership of the property and can do whatever the grantor would like provided it does not conflict with the restrictions contained in the easement.

Lively debate at Tuesday’s (8/4/2009) Borough Board meeting focused on returning to the old “Gunntown as a soccer field” argument, to using the park passively through a variety of methods, to selling the property.

Wetlands at Gunntown

Since ending the destruction of the Gunntown property on the first full day in office, our administration has taken significant steps to address the need for active recreational space. On June 10, 2009, we hosted an organizational meeting of representatives from Naugatuck’s youth and adult sports and support groups. The overwhelming consensus of the group was that Naugatuck needed an organization where all sports and support groups were represented to collectively address issues such as space, scheduling, fundraising and legislative support for initiatives. Our second meeting was held on July 15, 2009; at which time the group decided to name itself the Naugatuck Sports and Support Group (NSSG). Our mission statement can be viewed here.

In between the above referenced meetings, our administration requested that the Borough Engineer Jim Stewart and Assistant Engineer Wayne Zirolli produce ranking criteria for all publicly and privately owned parcels worthy of consideration as natural grass recreational areas. The purpose behind this request was to finally have an empirical system which analyzes all potential sites across a wide variety of categories including but not limited to size, ownership, utilities, neighborhood impact, parking, access to water, environmental impact and cost of acquisition and/or development. A group including Jim, Wayne, Burgess Mindy Fragoso, Park Commissioner Chairperson Pat Wagner, Mayoral Aide Ed Carter and myself met to review and add to the sites selected for review. Preliminary rankings in all categories will be discussed and finalized at the next NSSG meeting.

In addition, we held an initial meeting of our Turf2015 Committee on June 29, 2009. The purpose of the committee is to investigate the installation of synthetic grass at the Naugatuck High School athletic complex and any other applicable sites in the Borough. The consensus of the group is that the upper field at the high school (currently the football, baseball and softball fields) should be our first priority given the capacity of the field and existing infrastructure. Once synthetic grass is installed, the upper field would host football and soccer, as well as baseball, softball and marching band competitions. Committee members include high school coaches, band leaders, park department commissioners and superintendent, the athletic director, community activists and members of our office. A follow-up meeting was held at the high school on July 27, 2009.

Our administration has made synthetic grass a priority when seeking state and/or federal funding for projects. A preliminary cost estimate for both the upper and lower high school fields can be viewed here.

Providing quality, active recreational space for all our citizens is a high priority for our administration. Gunntown is not a solution to our problems. In addition to being a highly sensitive environmental piece of land with a long history, the property at Gunntown is isolated on a windy road, with no utilities, no water and could host one (1) field for one (1) season at most, requiring significant construction expense. Given the lack of water, it is likely that the field would deteriorate in a season or two after tax dollars, which we do not have, are expended. Before our administration ended construction at the site, the Naugatuck Park Commission plans designated the field to be used by Pop Warner football no earlier than 2010; not a soccer field.

When we talk about “doing it for our kids”, we should be certain that the actions we take and tax dollars we spend will achieve the desired result. In this case, one (1) field at Gunntown used for one (1) season for a couple years at most is not worth the investment and will not solve the problem. I will be on our fields this fall and next spring, like I have for many years, coaching kids and working with the many friends I have made throughout the years to advocate for better fields for our citizens.

The time has come to end the divisive debate surrounding Gunntown and focus our efforts on actually solving the recreational field space problem in an intelligent manner. Naugatuck has never had but deserves a passive park and nature preserve. Gunntown provides the perfect opportunity to provide such an area at little to no cost to taxpayers.

A conservation easement will prevent shortsighted attempts to put fields at Gunntown in future years. This is not a unique concept, but one replicated in several communities within and beyond Connecticut.

If you support a permanent, passive park at Gunntown, please contact your local elected officials and local media to voice your opinion.

Len Yannielli said,

The era of pitting certain groups in town against other groups in town is over. As an old, very old second baseman, I’m happy to see the athletic field woes in town being addressed with a long term vision. The broadening out of recreational opportunities to include a passive park and nature preserve at Gunntown is long overdue. Athletes and nonathletes can enjoy the biodiversity of this unique land.
Derek Ljongquist said,

To the residents of Naugatuck-
The Committee for a Cultural/Environmental Center – Gunntown Road (CCEC) is currently working with numerous individuals and organizations to restart the activities that we run at Gunntown in the late 1990s. Our group was asked by Mayor Joan Taf to stop activities there circa 2001.

We are still not utilizing the land as for the last year or so it’s been, in part, a construction zone. The wooded area where we held many meet-ups has been cleared.

Contrary to what is being said, the CCEC and the Naugatuck Land Trust (NLT) are not the organizations that sued the Borough over this issue.

Part of our plan is involving the public schools to study succession, the natural process of regrowth, in the areas that were cleared.

With a conservation easement, the Borough still owns the land at Gunntown, and such an agreement gives closure to the debate, saving taxpayer dollars, while providing for educational opportunities in the long-term.

The emphasis on Gunntown’s usage has been education, and it will remain our goal in the future. However, the land will remain open to all.

If you would like more information about the CCEC and our proposals for Gunntown, please email me at ljderek@gmail.com. I can also provide you with a copy of our full presentation with our proposals given at the July Board of Mayor and Burgesses meeting.

Thank you,

Derek Ljongquist
Chairman
Committee for a Cultural/Enviornmental Center – Gunntown Rd.
Charley Marenghi said,

It is imperative that we set aside land that may stay in its natural state. As one looks about town and sees the brown fields of downtown, urban blight in Union City, and the cookie cutter Mc Mansions strewn all over our residential areas we need to maintain some perspective.

Yes we need more recreational space. I agree whole heartedly with that concept. However, there are so many spaces in town that could be improved upon in regards to their condition and used for local athletics. The land that is behind Cross Street School and Hop Brook School could be better maintained and utilized much in the manner that the City Hill Middle School property is. With proper maintenance and irrigation these areas could be hot beds of youth athletic activity. In addition, these sites have a connective quality with established neighborhoods and schools as well as easy access. Not to mention that these properties would be more sustainible given our town’s limited financial resources.

If we develop Gunntown, who will patrol it to keep it clean and safe? Also, where are we going to get the manpower to maintain these fields? Lastly, who is going to truely benefit from using this land?

Balanced and intelligent use of existing town lands may yield more field space that is open and accessible. While at the same time what little open natural space we have left in town may be preserved for future generations.

Good luck Mayor Mezzo.
Ron San Angelo said,

The Boough of Naugatuck for almost 7 years has been planning a Recreaton Area on the Gunntown Road location. It has had the support of three different administrations. Jan Taf led efforts and worked hard to try to reach a compromise with opponents of the plan. They have been unwilling to compromise in any way an in fact took the Borough to court.The original plan was scaled down and approved by Land Use Boards and Commissions. While respecting the position of Mayor Mezzo, the town has considerable resources tied up in this propety and yes even won the right to develop this property in court. The chldren of Naugatuck have long been promised this property and we all recognize the needs for additional recreational areas in our community. Clearly current fields are being over utilized and have become dangerous. If the opponents of developing this propety care about the citizens of Naugatuck they should be willing to put this up for a public referendum. The foolish argument that the election of Mayor Mezzo was a referendum on this project is an insult to the intelligence of Naugatuck’s citizens!
Mayor Mezzo was elected for many reasons and I would state that very few citizens supported him for his support or non support of building a recreational area at Gunntown Road. Let the people decide! The TAXPAYERS PAID FOR THIS PROPERTY AND SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT THROUGH REFERENDUM TO MAKE THE DECISION! Call your Mayor and Burgesses and tell them to hold a REFERENDUM!

The town always has this same problem. No one wants a field developed in thier neighborhood. Stopping this project will set the borough back years. The truth is that the town owns very little property and none that are perfect for field development. The Gunntown Road property is a solid location and while not perfect is a good site for the proposed plan. While some opponents throw up false arguments and utilize every means possibe to stop this project our kids continue to play on dangerous fields.
Marcia said,

I have always been a supporter of preserving open space. Naugatuck has NO conservation conservation board or committee. We should be ashamed of this. If we truly care for our planet, we, as a town should have a conservation commission. We should set aside land for permanent open space. Development is haphazard and out of control in Naugatuck. Naugatuck needs to foucs on revitalizing, not ruining more beautiful land. After reading the article on Gunntown in this past Sunday’s Waterbury Republican (8/16), I am so disheartend that our Burgesses place so little value on pristine untouched land. I would welcome Naugatuck setting aside money in its budget to purchase open space. You can bet that I will not support any burgess in the next election that votes against a conservation easement. A conservation easement if the only way to ensure that this land remains untouched. Schools (God help us if Naugatuck needs another one) and fire stations can be built elsewhere. Look around at our neighboring communities — see how much open space they set aside. Naugatuck pales in comparision. Sad sad sad.

Regarding the field debate issue — children play on dangerous fields because they are not maintained properly. Soccer season begins in April and ends in November. Grass seed is thrown down in April, the kids trample over it and nothing grows. Try doing this out at Gunntown where there is no water supply — how on Earth do proponents expect to grow a field out there? I don’t know about the rest of you, but when I reseed my lawn, it is necessary to water it at least twice a day. This is not even possible at Gunntown. Naugatuck needs to come up with a sensible solution to the field space issue. Just because something sounded like a good idea at one point, doesn’t mean it is the smartest. It’s ok to change the game plan when the plan doesn’t make sense.
Charley Marenghi said,

No referendum is needed.
A costly referendum is not needed every time a decision is made by the government.
This is a representative democracy. We elect people every two years to gather the information needed and to make the call.
If we don’t like their decisions then the people in power are voted out.
Remember last May?
That’s how it works.
The big questions still stand:
Who will patrol it to keep it clean and safe?
Where are we going to get the manpower and infrastructure to maintain these fields?
Let’s think ahead here.
I really do wish that the town had the funds and manpower to build and sustain a facility on the Gunntown property. The fact is we can’t take care of what we have.
Until then it is a bad choice at this time.
Margaret Newell said,

I urge the people of Naugatuck to spend an hour on the weekend taking a ride to Gunntown Road and walking the Gunntown property. It is very easy to get to and this is something you owe yourself and your family to do. Do not just listen to others in town debate the developement issue. Find out for yourself. Just drive west on Rubber Avenue past the Mountview Plaza and the 7-11 Store and continue on Rubber Avenue until you reach the end of Rubber Avenue. Go left, and about a quarter mile after you take the left, on the left side of the road is the Gunntown Property. The property is before the Algonquin gas line and the old Gunntown cemetery. Previous mayors have made it hard to find because they stopped the voluntary passive developement of the area and would not install a sign identifying the passive space. The trails that the scouts cut are no longer marked and might be hard to find, but please take the time to walk the grassy field and meadow. Walk to that clean and pretty trout filled stream that runs through the property, under the shade trees where it is always cool and comfortable. Bring a picnic lunch. Picture what the land looks like when the autumn leaves are in full color. Imagine lying on a blanket and watching the clouds go by or setting up your easel and painting a landscape! This land is habitat to all kinds of wildlife – deer, bunnies, frogs, chipmunks, muskrat and otter, to name a few. Wouldn’t your children love to round a bend in the path and see these things in their natual setting. Wildflowers and wild herbs abound. There is wild horseradish here! Have you ever smelled that?! Once you walk the property, you will realize that the Gunntown Property should remain passive for all the people of Naugatuck to enjoy. Once passive property is developed, it is gone forever. Even our U.S. Presidents understand the need for open space – don’t we all love our National Parks and Wilderness areas? How shortsighted it would be to waste this beautiful property to anything but passive space for everyone in town to enjoy, not just sports fans? If additional sports fields are needed, let’s use what funds that might be available to develope fields by cleaning up and using the blighted areas in town – we have plenty, instead of destroying pristine land forever. Lastly, as Mayor Mezzo suggests, we need to look into finding funds to improve and maintain our current fields before creating more, that might not even be needed. Thank you, and please do take a walk! See for yourself.
Ron Skurat said,

Bob:
As you know, I do not live in Naugatuck. However, as a fellow campaigner please listen to me.
“Save this land”
Ron
Walt Bertotti said,

There is penty of rooom to keep everyboby happy. I say use it as an athletic field and open space! Lets used it to our full potential and not cocideer one persons view no matter how politiaclly involved they are.
Walt Bertotti
Michele Zuzick said,

As i have stated before i do not disagree that our current fields are in need of repair. However to build a recreation area/field off the beaten path of Naugatuck is not the answer. This will end up becoming a hang out for teenagers. It will end up being destroyed. It is not in a location where it can be easily patrolled by Naugatuck Police.

I have read comments about the need for a safe place for the children of Naugatuck. Gunntown Road is not a safe place for them. Half the residents in this town don’t even know where Gunntown Road is or how to get there.

The roads needed to travel on to get to this field will not be able to handle the traffic and are already in need of repair.

This will end up costing the taxpayers of Naugatuck a lot more money. Money that we can not afford to keep shelling out. Especially with the way the property taxes have increased. Naugatuck residents are losing there homes and we are debating over a piece of property that will cost a lot more money that it already has to this town and it’s residents.

Instead of putting more money into this project why don’t we concentrate on fixing what we have. Repairing the current fields we have would make it safer for the Children of Naugatuck.