‘A Champion Of Recreational Activities’—

Director Barbara Kasbarian Retiring From Parks & Rec

By Kendra Bobowick

Thirty-five years and no regrets.

Parks and Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian is retiring this month after a 35-year career that began in 1973. When she began her job, the Parks & Rec “department” was a two-person team of Mrs Kasbarian and Lee Davenson, who was then director of the department. Mrs Kasbarian became the director shortly after Mr Davenson died in 1988 and has remained at the helm of the department since.

After finishing a phone call in her small Town Hall South office Wednesday morning, she hung up and quickly pointed to her cheeks. “You want to talk about the smile on my face?” she asked.

Her thoughts on Wednesday? “It’s been a blast. I have no regrets whatsoever,” she said.

Barbara Kasbarian is leaving the Parks & Rec department, but will not be gone for good. Following the end of the month she plans to enjoy vacation time, after which she wants to come back part time or, “at least until they find someone,” she said.

Parks and Recreation Commission member Pat Barczak expressed his thanks for Ms Kasbarian’s years of service Tuesday during a regular meeting, saying that it “has been a pleasure.”

Commission Chairman Ed Marks works with Ms Kasbarian today on the commission, but his relationship with her began years ago.

“She has worked with my family for 30-plus years.” Glancing back to childhood, he said, “At one time my sister was a recreation supervisor and I worked as a counselor.” Despite the short notice of Mrs Kasbarian’s impending retirement, he spoke highly of the director during a phone call on Thursday morning.

“If I had anything to say, it would be that she is a champion of recreational activities in Newtown,” he said. “She has been a fighter for the programs.”

First Selectman Joe Borst acknowledged that an interview process, which would involve the Parks and Recreation Commission, will take place. “There are several people who have indicated interest,” he said Wednesday.

Ms Kasbarian spent time reminiscing with The Newtown Bee this week as she looked forward to her last day on May 30.

 Newtown Bee: What was the department like when you started in 1973?

Barbara Kasbarian: When I started it was just Lee Davenson and me and it was only the two of us for so long until we got a recreation supervisor. It was small. We had a park crew of two people and there was only Dickinson Park then and the pond.

We had a day camp. It was $3 a week!

Dickinson Pond was the manmade swimming hole that many residents and campers enjoyed within the town’s Dickinson Park on Elm Drive. The pool opened in 1956, and hosted hundreds of thousands of swimmers during its 50-year run before being closed and filled in 2006 and filled in when it could no longer meet health department requirements.

Did you always want to be involved with the Parks and Recreation Department?

BK: It’s funny, when I was in school no one talked about Parks & Rec. I grew in up in a city and we had a neighborhood park and a playground. It wasn’t until I started work here that it became a passion — and my family helped.

My daughter was 7 and when we were in the [Edmond] town hall and still doing in-person registrations, tennis was really big. There must have been 100 people and I walked into the office and there was my daughter, answering the phone! My kids were always volunteering and there are a lot of great memories.

As the town grew, was work a struggle?

BK: Tremendous. About 15 years ago it was finally accepted that Parks & Rec was a necessity and [the town] started funding our budget and accepting the fact that our infrastructure needed work.

What changed? What do people want?

BK: People demanded more and therefore support more. Thirty years ago people were just happy with what they were given. It has changed tremendously considering what parents’ expectations are.

Occupied with meeting needs, are you able to plan ahead?

BK: It has been hard. We rely on the school facilities and they’re overcrowded so we are cancelled out quite a lot, but we have the camps, but nothing of our own indoors. Looking ahead, that’s the community center.

The community-recreation center is an ongoing project that the recreation commission has worked hard to fund. In the most recent round of Newtown’s Capital Improvement Plan, voters approved design money to hire an architect and get the community center on paper.

What was your biggest accomplishment?

BK: Keeping pace really. We have been fortunate to have funding. We built Liberty Field, and a new field at Fairfield Hills, Tilson field that was donated by the Tilson family. We have the pool at Treadwell — we were fortunate to get grants for that. We have been able to keep pace with the outdoor facilities, well, until Dickinson Pool closed, but now we have Eichler’s Cove — it’s a beautiful piece of property.

Eichler’s Cove, once a private marina, is now a town-owned boat launch/beach/marina that recreation crews have been renovating to accommodate swimmers and boaters. Although the town kept the boat slips and launch open since the cove’s purchase in 2005, the beach, which has been under renovation, will open to the public for the first time this year.

 

Are there any doubts about retiring?

BK: No. None at all. I loved every minute.

I think one of the greatest things is working with the young people like the lifeguards and camp counselors. I truly loved every minute and I think the kids were a special part of it for me; we have had some wonderful kids working with us for years.

 

Any reason to hesitate?

BK: Well, yes, but it’s time. This will always have a special place in my heart and I will always try to stay involved, but my grandkids are growing so fast — life is too short and I want to spend time with them. I’m fortunate that all of them live in Newtown and I can be near them.

It’s everything; the grandkids, and we have our health — my husband was ill — and you start putting things into perspective. My parents are still alive and I look at that and it reinforces my decision.

I can’t believe I was young when I started here!

I have worked with phenomenal people here [naming the staff and park crew].

 

What were your expectations?

BK: I had worked for the department for 13 years before I was the director and the first thing to come at me was the Treadwell pool. That met expectations, but other times it was frustrating because you know what’s needed, but the funding just isn’t there.

I remember when Parks & Rec was at the bottom of the totem pole. I think we brought that up; I don’t think people look at it like a frivolous part of the town budget, but now it’s an integral part.

We support the town’s sports, too, by maintaining the fields. We probably see every child in the school system in at least one of our programs.

Would anything stop you from leaving?

BK: The community center, almost! It was almost there when things got touchy, but the location and funding came through and I thought I really wanted to stick around. But, I’ve been planning [retirement] for this spring for the past year.

I really hope I’ll be able to help and get our vision in there.

Any advice to the next person coming in, and what will they need?

BK: Keep looking ahead and planning for the future as much as you can. Hopefully someone will have new ideas and keep the department moving into the future.

The community center is a big deal now and [a new town pool] has to go someplace eventually.

The person needs a good business mind. The way the department is heading, whoever comes in has to be able to mesh the programs and parks and has to plan for the future. The person needs the business mind to run the community center financially and recreationally.