hamden, ct newhall neighborhood remediation...
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Town Parks Remedy, Reconstruction CompletePeter Villano Park is Dedicated
Hamden, CT
A newsletter provided by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection Winter 2016
Newhall Neighborhood
Remediation newsletter
Peter Villano and family cut the ribbon at the dedication of Peter Villano Park. Former Mayor Scott Jackson assists. Also pictured here are DEEP Project Manager Ray Frigon, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Hamden Mayor Curt Leng and Reverend Keith King, Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church.
On a balmy November afternoon some 75 people came out to honor former Hamden Mayor and State Representative Peter Villano at a formal dedication of Peter Villano Park, at the corner of Mill Rock Road and Winchester Avenue.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Senator Richard Blumenthal, State Senator Martin Looney and State Representatives Joseph Crisco and Brendan Sharkey all spoke to Peter Villano’s dedication to public service.
“Peter became a voice,” said Senator Looney. “No one worked harder. He saw [the cleanup project] through three DEEP Commissioners. He was a person everyone knew they could trust.”
“This park takes my breath away,” said Hamden Representative Brendan Sharkey and Speaker of the CT House of Representatives. “No one articulated the anguish of this neighborhood more than Peter. He was relentless, uncompromising to do the right thing for this neighborhood. This is a beautiful, beautiful facility for a beautiful, beautiful man.”
Raymond Frigon, DEEP Project Manager for 9 years, worked closely with Representative Villano. He said, “it was evident that Peter had the best interests of the neighborhood at heart. This park represents one of the best examples of what state and local government can do for the betterment of society.”
Construction of Peter Villano Park on the former Mill Rock Park came as
the end nears of a project to clean up the Newhall neighborhood.
In 2001, waste fill that was dumped in the area’s wetlands beginning in the early 1900’s was uncovered. The waste had levels of arsenic, lead and other constituents above public health standards and sparked a widespread investigation to determine the extent of contamination.
After years of study, a comprehensive cleanup plan was developed that covered 18 blocks totaling about 100 acres.
Remediation of some 246 individual properties was completed by the end of 2013.
Cleanup of Villano Park and Rochford Field began in November 2014.
The Hamden Economic Development Corporation (HEDC) managed cleanup of the Town Parks, on behalf of the Town of Hamden. HEDC and the Town’s consultants, Haley & Aldrich and Stantec, worked closely with the neighborhood to design both parks.
See “Town Parks”, continued on page 3
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Newhall Neighborhood Remediation Construction Update Winter 2016
Maintaining balance is a challenge!
Ruby Weiss of Hamden, a second grader at the Foote School, is the fi rst to try out the park’s monkey bars.
Hamden’s Economic Development Corporation Execu-tive Director Dale Kroop, who oversaw the re-con-struction of the parks, plays a tune on dedication day.
Charles Bellino of Newhall Street holds his young son, Carter, who cannot resist the spray pool.
It’s all about Fun...
Villano Park has ample benches and sitting areas. Low brick-lined stone walls separate the parks from neighborhood streets.
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Newhall Neighborhood Remediation Construction Update Winter 2016
Colorful autumn leaves and ledge provide a striking backdrop to two new tennis courts.
Shortly after the park opened on November 6, the four basketball courts were put into use.
New baseball fi eld with covered grandstand.
Residents shared their vision for the parks, a vision that drove the design.
For example, seniors wanted an area where they could gather for quiet conversation away from active use by children and teenagers. So a trellised sitting area was built at the opposite end of the park, a good distance from the play equipment and basketball courts.
The design is unlike most recreational facilities because both parks needed to be a few feet above street level. Waste fill was mounded in the center of the parks and capped to prevent exposure to contamination to those who play there. Attractive, low brick retaining walls and, in some area fencing, surround the parks.
Villano Park features many sitting areas, play equipment for children of all ages, a spray pool, two tennis courts, four basketball courts, a large lawn and amphitheater that can host concerts, Frisbee playing and other lawn games.
Villano Park opened the afternoon it was dedicated, November 6. Within a few hours the park began to fill with children and adults who were outside enjoying the 74 degree temperatures before winter set in.
Rochford Field will be opened for next spring’s baseball season. It will have several new features – a walking/jogging track around its perimeter, batting cages, scoreboard and a grandstand.
At the park dedication ceremony Hamden Mayor Curt Leng said the re-built town parks represent “community revitalization at its finest. Villano Park is the greatest park in the New Haven area, and perhaps in the state.”
...and Athletics!
Former Hamden Mayor Scott Jackson (left) and park designer, Tom Hammerberg, at dedication.
Town Parks, continued from front page
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CONNECTICUT
EN
ER
GY
E N V I R ON
ME
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CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
REMEDIATION DIVISION
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
We’re on the web!www.newhallinfo.org
Contact Info:Dept. of Energy and
Environmental Protection79 Elm StreetHartford, CT 06106-5127
Raymond FrigonEnvironmental Analyst, Project Mgr.(860) [email protected]
Hamden Economic Development Corporation2750 Dixwell Ave.Hamden, CT, 06518
Dale KroopExecutive Director(203) [email protected]
CT Department of Public HealthP.O. Box 340308410 Capitol Ave. MS#11CHAHartford, CT 06134-0308
Meg Harvey(860) [email protected]
Housing Developer Selected for Former Middle School SiteThe Town of Hamden has selected Mutual Housing Association of South Central CT (aka NeighborWorks New Horizons) to redevelop the 20-acre site of the former Hamden Middle School on Newhall Street following soil remediation.
The proposed development is currently undergoing review by the Town’s Planning and Zoning Department. The current proposal by NeighborWorks New Horizons calls for development of a total of 87 mixed income housing units for rent. The school’s existing main classroom building would be rehabilitated into 57 units, and construction of new buildings fronting on Newhall Street would have 30 apartments.
The existing gymnasium building would be made into a community center, while two other existing buildings (auditorium and cafeteria) would be demolished.
Following soil remediation by the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, the Town would sell the property to the developer for $1 and lease back the land behind the school for 99 years for recreation fields. Total development cost, not including remediation, is estimated to be $18 million.
If approval for the redevelopment project is granted soon, the soil remediation may be initiated in 2016, and the redevelopment project may break ground in 2017 with completion anticipated by 2019.