To the Editor:

I'm wondering if anyone has considered an alternative approach to defining a community center.  I'm all for an ice rink, and most of the other ideas being put forth, but in light of the financial realities associated with maintaining another NYA-like building, has anyone considered something like this…

Concept - A place for community members to connect, cross-generationally, with Newtown's history as a farming community, but in a way that looks forward, while meeting the needs of today's community… all guided by the theme of sustainability, and being kind.

I haven't fully vetted this (obviously), but why not build a large traditional looking barn centrally on the Fairfield Hills property.  While it looks traditional on the outside (except for the solar panels on the roof and in one of the fields), it is actually equipped as a modern, hands-on community agricultural center. It's surrounded by fertile gardens, or fields, with irrigation for warm-month farming, and it is equipped inside for year-round farming and agricultural research, and there should most definitely be a sugar-shack on one end (Fairfield Hills is full of beautiful ancient sugar maples!), and perhaps a petting zoo. It produces all of the electricity needed at Fairfield Hills. This year-round facility pays homage to our history, and invites seniors to participate as mentors, teachers and guides and storytellers, and it is actually a working year-round farm/production/research facility. The community comes together here for programs, to connect with nature and history, to get their hands dirty and to exercise while producing fresh health (organic?) food that is then made available to our schools, and to area food bank/soup kitchens……to celebrate life and to grow.  The schools can use this facility for programming.  We can reach out to UConn or WestConn, to see if they'd run programming there, perhaps the horse guard can take up residence there, etc., etc…  This can also become a centerpiece destination, a model that bringing people from other towns, schools to Newtown.  The farmer's market can be based here, making it one of the most progressive farmer's market destinations in the area.

A real living, growing community center like this can be so meaningful to our town, inclusive and meaningful to residents of all ages, it can be much more than just a "self"-sustaining building.  Constructing another athletic or senior center building is not a bad thing.  But is certainly isn't as progressive or meaningful as we could be.  Instead of enabling them to breathe in more recycled and chlorinated air, we could and should be promoting sustainability, generosity and getting kids to connect with nature and their history…to grow.  There are enough buildings in my opinion.

Dave Ackert

6 Cider Mill Road, Sandy Hook         February 12, 2016