The Parks and Recreation Commission emphasized once again that the proposed dog park will be a priority project now that other projects are successfully underway, the commissioners agreed during their Wednesday, Apr. 22 special meeting.
“Now that we’ve made so much progress on … Guy [Whitten Field] and Merwin [Meadows] and pickleball, now that those things are sort of in the coasting stage — I don’t want to say done, but they’re moving further along — we can kind of put more focus on the dog park,” said Parks & Rec Chair Alix Korpan.
Commissioner Andrew Maria, whom Parks and Recreation Department Director Steve Pierce nicknamed “our playground guru,” will take the initiative on keeping things moving between Parks & Rec’s monthly meetings, including coordinating with local residents who have expressed interest in helping the commission with plans.
Korpan said Parks & Rec should begin by determining the location, budget and amenities for the park. Pierce responded that the location will help determine requirements for fencing, access to water for playing and drinking, and activities such as obstacle courses. Pierce said he will also enlist the services of a dog trainer who frequently works with the Parks and Recreation Department to help plan the amenities.
Guy Whitten Field Lighting “Finally Rolling”
Pierce told the commissioners that work on the new LED floodlights at Guy Whitten Field — which Korpan called “the topic of the year, of the millennium” — is “finally rolling.” Pierce said the light poles have been installed and conduit for the electrical cables is currently being laid.
Once that is complete, the Wilton Building Department will then inspect the poles and Eversource will install a new transformer to power the lights. Pierce said he is hopeful that Parks and Rec will be able to start laying sod on the field during the week of Apr. 27, with anticipated rain hopefully making the process easier, he noted.
Pierce said he and his staff are “excited” about the new lights, which are visible from Kristine Lilly Way “‘Wait till we turn them on,'” Pierce said the installers told him. “‘They’re going to blow the other lights away.'”
As GOOD Morning Wilton has reported, the RFP for the lighting project was issued two years ago but confusion over approvals by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) and the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) for a variance due to the height of the lights caused delays.
Korpan noted that she gets questions from residents about the status of the lights whenever she attends a lacrosse game.
“Every day without the field is a challenge,” she said.
A temporary above-ground irrigation system will be installed to keep the grounds wet during the playing season. Parks and Rec plans to install a permanent underground irrigation system after the playing seasons ends.
Selectmen Updates: Bonded Capital Budget for Pickleball Courts and Lilley Field Turf Approved, Merwin Meadows Pond Contract Executed
During Wednesday’s meeting, Pierce updated the commissioners on the decision by the Board of Selectmen (BOS) earlier this month to include funding for four new outdoor pickleball courts and new synthetic turf for Wilton High School’s Kristine Lilly Field in the town’s $12 million Fiscal Year 2027 bonding plan.
At Pierce’s request, the BOS moved up the pickleball court funding from the FY 2029 bonding budget, and it also unilaterally decided to move up the Lilly Field project from the FY 2028 budget as well. The capital projects proposed for bonding will be presented along with the budget at the Annual Town Meeting on Tuesday, May 5 and residents will have the opportunity to vote on each project that evening or at the Annual Town Meeting Adjourned Vote on Saturday, May 9.
“To be clear to everyone, this [new turf for Lilly Field] would — even though it would be potentially getting bonded for this year — it would not be going in for this coming fall,” Korpan said. “So it would not be like the rush to install for September or August like we did last year for Guy Witten [Field].”
Pierce explained that Parks and Rec will use the time to investigate the latest developments in synthetic turf to identify the most suitable materials, manufacturers and installation methods and bring its proposals to the community for consideration. Should the voters not approve the proposal, Pierce said Parks and Rec will continue to do due diligence on the turf options and resubmit it for consideration in next year’s budget cycle.
If the pickleball project is approved, Parks and Rec crews will begin installation work on the pickleball courts first over the summer, and commence the Lily Field turf replacement project in the fall.
“I think we knew that would be popular with most people in the town, so I’m happy to see that we’re moving forward,” Korpan said of the pickleball courts. “Hopefully it gets passed, and then we can get the ball rolling, no pun intended.”
Pierce also updated the commissioners on the status of the dredging of Merwin Meadows Pond, which has been closed since the August 2024 floods. He said that earlier in the day, First Selectman Toni Boucher and Torrington-based Yield Industries LLC both signed the contract for the dredging following the unanimous approval of a wetlands permit by the Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) the previous evening.
“We’ll be talking to them in the next day or two to get started,” Pierce said. “This is about a three-week project, in and out. So, once I get the schedule, I’ll let you know what that is. But we’re excited just to be at the point where we’re ready to go.”
Altogether, the work is expected to take three weeks. Pierce said that he couldn’t promise that the work would be completed in time to open the pond to swimming by Memorial Day, but that was the goal they were working toward.
“I think that’s definitely very good that we’re going to likely get this open by Memorial Day, and worst case scenario, maybe a week after Memorial Day,” Korpan said. “But we’re definitely on track, which is great news.”
Parks & Grounds and Recreation Updates
Enrollment for summer camp and the town’s summer programs is “going well,” Pierce said, citing the arrival of warmer temperatures.
Looking toward upcoming public events, Pierce said Parks & Rec is working with the Wilton Police and Fire Departments and Emergency Services to coordinate the July Fourth parade, which will take place that morning through the center of town. Traffic flow will be affected by the closure of Cannon Bridge, he noted, and the annual road race will likely be moved to the previous weekend to accommodate the parade.
Pierce thanked the Wilton Baseball Association for the installation of new bleachers and netting at the WHS varsity baseball field and the Wilton Softball Association for putting up new batting cages at Middlebrook School, which is currently underway.
After seven years with the town, Parks & Rec Administrative Manager Kregg Zulkeski will be leaving in early May to become a recreation director in another state. Pierce commended Zulkeski as a great asset to the department, and said he will be missed — particularly because, as the youngest person in the department, he was the default “go-to guy” for computers and technology questions.
New Town Mascot Spotted?
Commissioner Mark Shaner reported that he saw a large bird of prey making a nest atop one of the light towers along the first-base line of the softball field. While he couldn’t identify it, he said he observed it over the course of several days flying around the field and carrying sticks up to the nest.
“Could be fun to set up a webcam,” Shaner said. “I don’t know if that’s possible.”
“It could be the new town mascot,” Korpan said.