Mayor Explains Central Park Renovations
By Erin E. Stewart| Mayor of New Britain at July 17, 2024 | 8:15 am | Print
As City Journal readers know, I love New Britain.
I believe that revitalizing our city begins with reinvigorating its heart: Central Park.
I want Central Park to be a magnet - a gathering place for families and a showcase for our city. The park should be a fun, friendly, vibrant place where people from throughout central Connecticut feel safe and welcome.
The Common Council recently gave approval to buy an artificial Christmas tree to replace the Guida Family Tree in Central Park, which had become diseased and had to be removed. As part of the plans to enhance our downtown, a few other trees that were also unhealthy unfortunately had to be taken down. When work is completed next year, more than a dozen new trees- along with a host of other new landscaping features-will be added to the area in and around Central Park.
This project has long been in the making. Four years ago, the city received a planning grant to develop the Complete Streets Master Plan in an effort to make the downtown more attractive and pedestrian friendly. There are five phases to the plan, the central park renovation is phase three.
The environmental planning office of the state Department of Transportation reviewed the project’s impacts—including historical and wildlife implications—in October 2012.
In February 2013, the State Historic Preservation Office wrote, “The proposed project will return the park to a form closer to its original form.” The Parks and Recreation Commission endorsed the plan in September 2013.
How was the new tree paid for?
The artificial holiday tree - which will be produced by a company in Pennsylvania - is being paid for with previously approved bonds for the streetscape project. More than three-quarters of Phase III of the Streetscape will be paid for through federal funds. In addition to looking great, this tree will ultimately save the City money over the long-term due to its comparatively low-cost of installation, operation and maintenance.
What will it look like?
This tree will be 34-feet tall, 16-feet in diameter, have 4,500 LED lights, and it will have a five-foot tall silver star at the top.
The changes that are taking place downtown will help unify the look of the area, make it more desirable to developers, expand opportunities for residents, and usher in a new era of popular city traditions.
What are the possibilities?
Some of the possibilities include having a temporary ice skating rink during the winter, food trucks, summer music concerts, and more.
Change doesn’t come easy. Some of the construction work is causing minor inconveniences for residents and businesses, but the end result in the fall of 2016 will be well worth the wait and disruptions.
I want taxpayers to know that I have heard their concerns and continue to stand ready to answer any questions they have.
I am confident that Central Park’s transformation will be a source of city pride for many years to come.
