The city’s Parks Commission likes a ranger program The Friends of Edgewood Park run for kids — but turned down a request to pay for it. Read on to find out why, and to learn about Dwight neighbors who had better luck with the commissioners.
p(clear). The Edgewood group and neighbors of Kids’ Rainbow Park on Edgewood Avenue near Dwight Street both made pitches to the parks commissioners at their monthly meeting Wednesday evening.
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Friends of Edgewood Park Vice-President Debby Evans, Nature Pals Director Tatiana O’Connor and Treasurer Anne Weaver Lozon, pictured, requested $3,500 from the board for the weekly program they run for children and their parents. The “hands-on” bilingual program at the ranger station attracts as many as 55 attendees a week.
p(clear). Click here to read a prior story on the program.
p(clear). In explaining why the commission voted not to shell out the money, Chairman David Belowsky said the commission’s decision was “not so much financial.” He said only 50 percent of the attendees, approximately, are from New Haven. Families coming from out of town “could put $5 in a box” to help pay for the Nature Pals program, he said. He’d like the program to be self-sustaining.
p(clear). Weaver Lozon said the Friends were not charging for the program but that it was being considered.
p(clear). One commissioner suggested charging out-of-towners a higher fee.
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Kids’ Rainbow Park is a small, well-kept plot of land on Edgewood Avenue between Dwight and Howe Streets. A dedicated group of park users came up with money and the plans to build a garden shed.
p(clear). Elizabeth Morgan from the Yale Urban Design Workshop, which designed the shed, and Matthew Short of the Chelsea Company and Chair of Block Watch 320, pictured, showed the designs to the park commissioners, seeking formal approval.
p(clear). Belowsky said the shed was approved.
p(clear). Pat Wallace, a regular user of the park, said neighbors need the shed to store garden equipment as well as lawn chairs, a wheelbarrow and a barbecue.
p(clear). “The block watch has barbecues for the whole neighborhood,” she said. “We want to make it easier.”
p(clear). They applied to the Community Foundation for a $3,000 grant; they received $800. Wallace said they would keep up the fundraising efforts. Job Corps has signed on to build the shed and will help purchase construction materials.