Bisceglie-Scribner Park: latest news!
BREAKING NEWS!!!  "Small town grant" comes through!!!  "Woof, woof" (dog talk for "please release me, let me go...").
STEAP grant: State approves $75,000 for park
FORUM
by PATRICIA GAY
Sep 27, 2006

The renovation plan for Bisceglie-Scribner Park just got a big boost. Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced last week that $75,000 in new state funding will soon be available to help pay for proposed improvements.   The funding comes from the state’s Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) that is to be approved at the next meeting of the state bond commission.

“This beautiful park — with its ball fields, hiking trails, picnic facilities and a handicapped-accessible playground — will become even more of a local focal point for recreational activities for the children and families of Weston,” Ms. Rell said.

“Making this funding available will also ease some of the local taxpayer burden and build on my commitment to help our small towns by lending a hand when we can. I am delighted that this funding is now available for what is really an important investment in the town of Weston and its quality of life.”

Jenna Jacobs-Dick was thrilled to hear about the state grant. As director of the Weston Park Project, a non-profit group of community volunteers who are spearheading the renovation project, the funding couldn’t come at a better time.

“By this time, we had hoped to raise $250,000 for the project, but to date we have raised $75,000, so we are beside ourselves with joy,” she said.

Phase one of the renovation plan calls for the creation of a playground, walking trails, picnic facilities, and new landscaping to make Bisceglie Park more accessible and enjoyable for people of all ages.

Ms. Jacobs-Dick believes construction could start as early as this fall. However, first the group is seeking a clarification from the state to see if it needs to raise additional funds. “When we first started, we expected to raise $150,000.

Now that we have raised just $75,000, we need to make sure that is all right with the state,” she said. “Whatever it takes to get this park built, that is what we will do.”

Tom Landry, town administrator, filled out the paperwork for the grant in January. He said he was told in June the town’s request for funding had been turned down, so he was plesantly surprised by the recent announcement. 

David Juneau, chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission, was also very happy and congratulated the Weston Park Project. “They had a dream, and they did it,” he said.  In case the state funding did not pan out, Mr. Juneau said his commission had met a few months ago and voted to endorse the scope of the Bisceglie project at whatever amount of money was raised.

“We were on board with it,” he said.

Ultimately, Mr. Juneau said, it is up to the Board of Selectmen to accept the grant for the park, just as that board approves Little League projects. “Our commission cannot accept gifts, only the selectmen can,” he said.

Mr. Juneau thanked the state lawmakers who represent Weston — Senators Judith Freedman and John McKinney, and Rep. John Stripp — for guiding this project through the state bonding process.

 “Bisceglie-Scribner Park has become the center of Weston’s community recreational programs and this investment will benefit our town, and especially its children, for another generation,” Ms. Freedman said.

Mr. McKinney called the park “a true community gem that has become a resource to everyone in Weston, young and old. These enhancements will make a great park even greater.”

Mr. Stripp noted that the improvements will include a small performance platform and benches for children’s puppet shows, music and story-time events, and called the project “a wonderful illustration of what a small town and the state of Connecticut can do when they work together.”

A total of $20 million was authorized for more than 100 small towns under the STEAP program this fiscal year. The bond commission is set to meet Friday, Oct. 6, at 10:30 a.m. in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
Bisceglie-Scribner Park:  a long story...

Parks and Recreation to entertain Public Hearing asking for public input on future activity proposals for Bisceglie-Scribner Park Thursday, February 2, 2006, 7:30pm, in the Commission Room at Town Hall - want more than Little League?  Pre-"Speak-Up 2006" speak-up!
HISTORY:  Could septic fields be placed on less utilized sections?  Update 2-25-01--probably, yes, however...Conservation Commission rejects this idea twice (most recently March 15, 2003).  APRIL 2004...it rains finally, DEP OK's School Road;  the pond at Bisceglie is closed only for this summer (2004).  And (drum roll...) Little League Fields (one shown at right below) opened!  Play ball!

Welcome to Bisceglie-Scribner Park, as the sign below says.  The park was divided into more passive recreation areas, and active ones (as shown on the sign pictured above).  In the parking lot, if you turn right, you would find the paved, long driveway to the pond and swings.  Opened to the public about ten years ago for pond swimming (it is fed by ice cold groundwater from a well), families have enjoyed the active recreation offered from the very first!  Swings and sand box were not being used when "AboutTown" visited on a late July day, but they were in fine repair!  SUMMER of 2004 POND IS CLOSED...TO REOPEN @2005 FOR SWIMMING...see below for why this is happening.

In earlier photo, Bisceglie entrance and pool area.  At right, August 20, 2004 photo of new Little League Fields (3 field complex).

"The path less traveled." Making a left at the same parking lot, prior to Spring 2004, brought you to a more rugged section of Bisceglie (note the fallen tree across the fitness trail below left).  In addition to being "less traveled," the left, or southern section of Bisceglie Park (on the eastern side of the West Branch of the Saugatuck River) the best soils are found (Charlton).  It seems abandoned here (note picnic tables reaching for the sky) with no sign of human habitation (no trash).  It is these last two views that have made the "Select Committee..." searching for sewage treatment alternatives consider turning the picnic area and unused section of the fitness trail into ball fields - and septic fields below (this last did not happen).  For more information about the "Select Committee..." click HERE.

ACTIVE RECREATION NEEDS:
As part of the Referendum of Nov. 15, 2001, no new or renovated schools would be permitted without a tertiary treatment plant (and outfall), and furthermore, wetland soils on the School Road campus were to be inviolate (or the Army Corps of Engineers, CTDEP and our own Conservation Commission would shut construction down).  So all school additions and new buildings were placed on "dry land" - which meant that any playing field was open for construction.  Design for the septic fields as outfall for the tertiary treatment plant OK'd by CTDEP (at the edge of Revson Field).  No more varsity baseball or football in Spring 2004;  no tennis courts either - but thanks to Tennis Club, team still practices.  P.S.  Boys Baseball playing home games in Harbor Yard professional stadium in Bridgeport!!!

WHAT DOES THE REFERENDUM/PLAN CALL FOR?  Turned out the fields are for Little League-sized players only.
Outlying new fields to be built on Bisceglie, Morehouse Farm Park and new, artifical surface track and football field on Campus.  NOTE:  we believe community fundraising and grant from State of CT is paying for additional cost for construction of artificial football, soccer fields.

Old photo of walking trails, picnic area; overall Plan for (l) Bisceglie (c) Campus and (r) Morehouse Farm Park.  NOTE: Center photo of picnic area is historic--now three Little League fields (see top right).  Walking trails to be replaced--but will never again have the same "path less traveled" look.