Public Can Place Its Stamp On Fairfield Hills Benches, Trees, Gardens

By Kendra Bobowick

Doors of opportunity have just opened up for residents to personalize the Fairfield Hills campus through a logo, granite benches, trees, and even rain gardens. Conversation Tuesday evening at the Fairfield Hills Authority meeting ultimately led to a decision to establish an overall gifting program as part of the redesign of the former state hospital grounds.

Strictly an idea without specifics at the moment, authority member Amy Dent said, “Probably the next step is to talk to other groups who have done this.” She anticipated appointing an authority member to manage the project. Although currently only a concept, the authority did unanimously approve to support the program. “We’ll go ahead, that’s a definite,” Ms Dent said. “It’s a matter of methodology.”

The idea had evolved from a subcommittee meeting held in past days addressing the campus design guidelines that would steer its aesthetic style from landscaping and existing tree maintenance to benches, lighting, parking, and more. 

Ms Dent, also a subcommittee member, said, “I want to put together a program so residents can make gifts.” Solidifying design guidelines must come first to clarify what types of trees, benches, lighting, etc, the authority is seeking, she said.

These areas of concern have become roads of opportunity for the public to have a hand in revamping the former state hospital’s grounds.

A recent planning subcommittee meeting with Vollmer Associates LLP, a firm that handles areas including planning, landscape architecture, and structural engineering, had revealed several areas of concern on the 186-acre grounds. Ms Dent explained, “A number of existing trees need maintenance and money is not in the budget to do it.”

Lapse in maintenance may account for some of the problem.

“A lot of those trees that have been neglected for years are starting to show their neglect,” she said. She has also received promises of some pro bono maintenance work, which could deduct from maintenance expenses. Chairman Bob Geckle asked that she find the overall estimate for tree maintenance, then find out how much could be done pro bono. The remainder might come from budget funds.

Specimen trees might replace those lost to maintenance.

Future park benches also gained attention Tuesday.

Again referring to initial discussions at the subcommittee meeting, Ms Dent said she had concerns about wooden models, and sturdier granite benches are too expensive. She said, “It led us to talk about replacing trees, talk about rain gardens for recharge areas — they’re not inexpensive.”

She then introduced the sponsoring idea saying, “I want to put together a gifting program so residents can make gifts of rain gardens, specimen trees, or granite benches.”

Member Don Studley favored the idea. “With granite benches, people can put their names on them — people like that.”

Residents can also become involved with Fairfield Hills through their imaginations.

“We thought it would be interesting to have a contest for logo creation,” said Ms Dent. “I move that we establish a contest for the purpose of creating a Fairfield Hills logo.”  The idea that had also bloomed at a recent subcommittee meeting found support with the authority.

Member John Reed said, “I think it’s a good idea; I see the schools liking that.”  He also pictured others who might be interested in designing a logo for the future hub of municipal activity, and various private business endeavors. He continued, “I see someone sitting at home who might have an idea.”

The authority also moved Tuesday that steps are taken to get the Fairfield Hills streets on the town road list.

“We’re under the impression that none of the roads are accepted by the town,” she said.