WILTON – Selectmen decided to postpone a decision on a problematic playground Tuesday evening, after residents from the neighborhood spoke out in favor of keeping the park open.
The Village View Street Park sits between the intersections of Union Street and Kingsbury Way in a compact residential area. It features a swing set, half-basketball court, climbing structure, slide, with a bench and picnic table and is bordered on both sides by a row of tall white pines.
According to Frank Donald, director of parks and recreation, the park doesn’t get any activity not seen at other Wilton recreation areas, but that the amount of damage, discarded debris and vandalism is high given the park’s usage.
“It’s just been constant problems there,” Donald said. He said issues have included logs, rocks and limbs throw to the grass, ropes tied up through trees, litter and paint on equipment.
Selectmen had spent some time considering alternate uses for the lot, including selling it to a nonprofit organization for use by an affordable housing project. Community Concepts’ Michael Burke was at Tuesday’s meeting, discussing programs his agency operates wherein either would-be homeowners or Foster Technology Center students build a house for a low-income family.
That solution would obviously fix any issues the town has with the lot, as well as creating a tax-paying house lot, but there are complications. Village View Street park was created with a federal grant administered by the Department of Conservation. Any proceeds from the lot’s sale, or alternately, the lot’s market value if it were given away, would need to be invested back into the town to purchase land for parks.
The lot has been appraised at $29,000.
Residents of the neighborhood at the meeting said the park did see usage throughout the year, and questioned if better enforcement was the answer, particularly at night. Donald noted that it was difficult for police or park personnel to maintain any sort of consistent watch over the park, and that he suspected much of the damage was being caused by younger children, as opposed to older kids traveling from other parts of the town.
Donald and selectmen suggested that the neighborhood consider forming a watch program, to keep an eye on the park and report any issues to the town. Donald said that closing or selling the lot wasn’t his first choice, and that community involvement was probably the answer.
“I’d rather see something like that then see the park closed,” Donald said.
Selectmen asked the issue be added to the April 19 meeting, at which point they will gauge interest in maintaining the park. Between now and then, the Recreation Committee will be having a meeting on April 10 at 7 p.m., at the town office. Residents interested in forming a neighborh0od watch group are encouraged to come to that meeting, or contact the town office at 645-4961.
If you want to help keep the park open for the children Lynn Ridley @ 645-2473 and myself Judy Schmitt @645-4358 have agreed to approach neighbors for their ideas on how to work together to save the park . It would be nice to have possible plans to bring up at the meeting with Frank Donald. on April 10th @ 7p.m. This playground can be an asset to your neighborhood. Children need a safe place to play and be active outdoors. Please call before 8p.m. and leave a message if no answer and we will return your call. Please attend the meeting scheduled with Frank.
What about adding some motion activated overnight lighting? Wouldn’t they discourage vandalism, encourage proper use & be cost effective. They would also be a great asset to the neighborhood watch group.