Winter 2016 - Newhall Neighborhood Remediation

A newsletter provided by the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
Winter 2016
Hamden, CT
Newhall Neighborhood
Remediation newsletter
Town Parks Remedy, Reconstruction Complete
Peter Villano Park is Dedicated
On a balmy November afternoon
some 75 people came out to honor
former Hamden Mayor and State
Representative Peter Villano at a
formal dedication of Peter Villano
Park, at the corner of Mill Rock Road
and Winchester Avenue.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro,
Senator Richard Blumenthal, State
Senator Martin Looney and State
Representatives Joseph Crisco and
Brendan Sharkey all spoke to Peter
Villano’s dedication to public service.
“Peter became a voice,” said Senator
Looney. “No one worked harder. He
saw [the cleanup project] through
three DEEP Commissioners. He was
a person everyone knew they could
trust.”
“This park takes my breath away,”
said Hamden Representative
Brendan Sharkey and Speaker of
the CT House of Representatives.
“No one articulated the anguish of this
neighborhood more than Peter. He
was relentless, uncompromising to do
the right thing for this neighborhood.
This is a beautiful, beautiful facility for
a beautiful, beautiful man.”
Raymond Frigon, DEEP Project
Manager for 9 years, worked closely
with Representative Villano. He said,
“it was evident that Peter had the
best interests of the neighborhood at
heart. This park represents one of the
best examples of what state and local
government can do for the betterment
of society.”
Construction of Peter Villano Park on
the former Mill Rock Park came as
Peter Villano and family cut the ribbon at the dedication of Peter Villano Park.
Former Mayor Scott Jackson assists. Also pictured here are DEEP Project Manager
Ray Frigon, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Hamden
Mayor Curt Leng and Reverend Keith King, Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church.
the end nears of a project to clean up the
Newhall neighborhood.
In 2001, waste fill that was dumped
in the area’s wetlands beginning in
the early 1900’s was uncovered. The
waste had levels of arsenic, lead and
other constituents above public health
standards and sparked a widespread
investigation to determine the extent of
contamination.
After years of study, a comprehensive
cleanup plan was developed that covered
18 blocks totaling about 100 acres.
Remediation of some 246 individual
properties was completed by the end of
2013.
Cleanup of Villano Park and Rochford
Field began in November 2014.
The Hamden Economic Development
Corporation (HEDC) managed cleanup
of the Town Parks, on behalf of the
Town of Hamden. HEDC and the Town’s
consultants, Haley & Aldrich and Stantec,
worked closely with the neighborhood to
design both parks.
See “Town Parks”, continued on page 3
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Newhall Neighborhood Remediation Construction Update
It’s all about
Fun...
Hamden’s Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Dale Kroop, who oversaw the re-construction of the parks, plays a tune on dedication day.
Maintaining balance is a challenge!
Ruby Weiss of Hamden, a second grader at the
Foote School, is the first to try out the park’s
monkey bars.
Charles Bellino of Newhall Street holds his young son,
Carter, who cannot resist the spray pool.
Low brick-lined stone walls separate the parks
from neighborhood streets.
Villano Park has ample benches and sitting areas.
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Winter 2016
...and
Town Parks, continued from front page
Athletics!
Residents shared their vision for the parks, a vision that drove
the design.
For example, seniors wanted an area where they could gather
for quiet conversation away from active use by children and
teenagers. So a trellised sitting area was built at the opposite
end of the park, a good distance from the play equipment and
basketball courts.
The design is unlike most recreational facilities because both
parks needed to be a few feet above street level. Waste fill
was mounded in the center of the parks and capped to prevent
exposure to contamination to those who play there. Attractive,
low brick retaining walls and, in some area fencing, surround
the parks.
Villano Park features many sitting areas, play equipment
for children of all ages, a spray pool, two tennis courts, four
basketball courts, a large lawn and amphitheater that can host
concerts, Frisbee playing and other lawn games.
Shortly after the park opened on November 6, the
four basketball courts were put into use.
Villano Park opened the afternoon it was dedicated, November
6. Within a few hours the park began to fill with children and
adults who were outside enjoying the 74 degree temperatures
before winter set in.
Rochford Field will be opened for next spring’s baseball
season. It will have several new features – a walking/jogging
track around its perimeter, batting cages, scoreboard and a
grandstand.
At the park dedication ceremony Hamden Mayor Curt Leng
said the re-built town parks represent “community revitalization
at its finest. Villano Park is the greatest park in the New Haven
area, and perhaps in the state.”
New baseball field with covered grandstand.
Colorful autumn leaves and ledge provide a striking
backdrop to two new tennis courts.
Former Hamden Mayor Scott Jackson (left) and park
designer, Tom Hammerberg, at dedication.
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CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
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ENERG
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N
C
NECTICU
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E N VI R
REMEDIATION DIVISION
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
O
We’re on the web!
www.newhallinfo.org
Contact Info:
Dept. of Energy and
Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127
Raymond Frigon
Environmental Analyst, Project Mgr.
(860) 424-3797
raymond.frigon@ct.gov
Hamden Economic Development
Corporation
2750 Dixwell Ave.
Hamden, CT, 06518
Dale Kroop
Executive Director
(203) 287-7033
dkroop@hamden.com
CT Department of Public Health
P.O. Box 340308
410 Capitol Ave. MS#11CHA
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Meg Harvey
(860) 509-7748
margaret.harvey@ct.gov
Housing Developer Selected
for Former Middle School Site
The Town of Hamden has selected Mutual Housing Association of South
Central CT (aka NeighborWorks New Horizons) to redevelop the 20-acre site of
the former Hamden Middle School on Newhall Street following soil remediation.
The proposed development is currently undergoing review by the Town’s
Planning and Zoning Department. The current proposal by NeighborWorks
New Horizons calls for development of a total of 87 mixed income housing units
for rent. The school’s existing main classroom building would be rehabilitated
into 57 units, and construction of new buildings fronting on Newhall Street
would have 30 apartments.
The existing gymnasium building would be made into a community center,
while two other existing buildings (auditorium and cafeteria) would be
demolished.
Following soil remediation by the South Central Connecticut Regional Water
Authority, the Town would sell the property to the developer for $1 and lease
back the land behind the school for 99 years for recreation fields. Total
development cost, not including remediation, is estimated to be $18 million.
If approval for the redevelopment project is granted soon, the soil remediation
may be initiated in 2016, and the redevelopment project may break ground in
2017 with completion anticipated by 2019.
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