Stratford tennis court plan to proceed without tree removal
STRATFORD — The plan to build new tennis courts at Longbrook Park appears set to move forward without the controversial removal of eight trees from the park.
Tree Warden Kelly Kerrigan had requested the revision in March, and the council approved it at its Monday meeting.
The site plan draft moves the tennis courts closer to the corner of Glendale Road and Prim Street. The design firm is still working on the exact construction plans for the new site plan, Kerrigan said. Once plans are finalized and approved by the council, work can begin. The exact timeline for the project is uncertain.
“We have this process set up so that the community can have a say,” Kerrigan said. “And here the community came out and they made it loud and clear that they wanted to save the trees.”
The previous plans for the tennis courts were met with some backlash from town residents. At a public hearing in February, around 30 speakers came to voice their opinions on the project, most in opposition because of the number of trees set to be removed and few in support.
“Thanks to so many caring and dedicated environmental advocates, Stratford residents voiced their concerns and actively participated in our local government process,” Town Council Member Kaitlyn Shake said in a statement to Hearst Connecticut Media Friday. “I’m so happy we were able to save the trees at Longbrook Park and work with the council to come up with an alternative tennis court design.”
Shake, who chairs the Longbrook Park Commission, was an active voice among the opposition to cutting down the trees.
In the approved alternative site plan, which is available on the town website, two trees will be transplanted and one other tree will be trimmed, according to Public Works Director Raynae Serra. The batting cage right next to the tennis courts will now remain in its current location and the drainage system previously planned will be reduced, Serra said.
“So we do have those two transplants that will hopefully take but if not, we do plan on replacing those,” Kerrigan said, in the case the transplanted trees do not survive in their new location.
Kerrigan said some additional data collection was necessary for the new site plan, but it is all done now.
“I was very pleased that Public Works department in came back with the engineer on a revised layout that limited the trees coming down,” Council Chair Chris Pia said. “The things gonna look beautiful. It’s gonna be great. I’m excited for the high school kids at Stratford High School to finally have a true home tennis court.”
Pia also highlighted the new courts dual-capability as pickleball courts. He said the pickleball courts at Short Beach have been well received by the community.