Newington Committee Chairman: Don't Build New Recreation ...

NEWINGTON ??

The chairman of the town hall renovation building committee said this week he would recommend eliminating Mill Pond Park for consideration as a site for a new standalone recreation center.

Chairman Scott McBride said he would ask the committee to reject the location after residents objected to constructing the facility in the park near residential areas.

"They saw some obvious problems with putting the building in those locations," McBride said. "I think a majority of the committee has a problem with putting the building in a park."

The Mortenson Recreation Center is currently located in town hall. The committee is considering whether to build a separate recreation center as part of a renovation of the building. Earlier this month, the committee narrowed possible sites for the center from nine to four:

?The clay tennis courts on the far side of Mill Pond Park.

?On Garfield Street near Willard Avenue.

?On Garfield Street close to the baseball diamond in Mill Pond Park.

?The youth soccer fields along Willard Avenue.

Residents speaking at the committee's Dec. 17 meeting strongly objected to building the recreation center in Mill Pond Park. They expressed concerns about traffic, loss of open space and the location of such a large building in a residential area.

"It will place stress on the neighborhood," said Sharon Johnson, according to minutes of the meeting. "It would be a loss of open space. It will add congestion and traffic on Audubon Avenue. How would the town hold the Extravaganza fireworks? Please take it off the table."

McBride said he later contacted people who spoke at the meeting. He said that the proposed sites were intended to provoke a discussion, and he was pleased that they did.

"I'm thrilled that the public came out," McBride said. "Their input is important to doing this right."

The town has no cost estimates yet for the town hall renovation project. The building is in poor condition and needs a major overhaul. Several studies have recommended building a separate recreation center. Cost will be major factor in determining whether to do so, McBride has said.

The committee, meanwhile, received 14 responses to its call for proposals for a construction manager to begin planning for the renovation. All but one meets the preliminary qualifications for the job, according to the meeting minutes.

Committee members are working to pare down the list to a smaller group that will then give presentations to the committee, McBride said. He said he is pleased with the quantity and quality of the responses.

"That's a positive thing when many people come back," McBride said. "We seem to have gotten the best of the best."

Taxpayers will have to approve bonding to pay for the work. The committee hopes to put a bond issue before voters in November and begin construction in 2014.

Source: http://www.courant.com/community/newington/hc-newington-recreation-0103-20121227,0,2297098.story

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