Bathroom Project Backed Up At Dickinson Park

By Steve Bigham

The bathroom project at Dickinson Park remained untouched this week more than a year after supplies were first delivered to the site. But town officials say the project may finally begin next week.

Fortunately, those who are waiting can now use the portable bathroom facility that has been installed alongside the Dickinson tennis courts. By late June, the new bathrooms should be up and flushing. They will be located between the pavilion and the tennis courts.

The project has been delayed on numerous occasions as private contractors have backed out in favor of larger jobs. Finally, town officials concluded they would use their own manpower to finish the job. Getting it done has been another story, though.

“I’m very frustrated about the length of time it has taken, but I believe Public Works is moving along to the point where they’re ready to put the thing up,” admitted First Selectman Herb Rosenthal this week.

On Tuesday, Public Works Director Fred Hurley said he had the building permit in hand and planned to have his men working on the site by next week. Currently, material for the project is being stored underneath the park’s pavilion.

The construction project is expected to take at least six weeks: two weeks for the installation of fittings and utility piping, two weeks for physical construction of the bathrooms, and two weeks for the finishing off of the “mechanicals,” Mr Hurley said.

“I’d love to get it ready for the Fourth of July, but I’d hate to stake my life to that. It won’t be the end of summer. It’ll be before that,” Mr Hurley said.

Parks & Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian said some residents have complained that the bathroom facility should be located closer to the pool. However, according to Mrs Kasbarian, building structure in that area is restricted due to wetlands.

In other news, the newly paved tennis courts at Dickinson Park now feature a handful of unsightly black patches. The nasty ice conditions this past winter brought on cracks, which were filled with asphalt earlier this spring.  Connecticut Asphalt paved the courts last summer and provided the town with a three-year guarantee. Mrs Kasbarian said she plans to have the black-spotted areas re-painted by early June.

This week, Ron Moffatt’s Parks & Recreation crew was seen cleaning and re-painting the Dickinson Park pool in preparation for its June 17th opening. The Treadwell Park pool opens Memorial Day weekend.