Simmons worried about funding for Boathouse Park project

First Selectman concerned state may not come through with the $200,000 it promised

Mystic — As the town gets set to formally hire a local firm to develop the master plan for the $2.2 million Mystic River Boathouse Park project, First Selectman Rob Simmons said he is concerned the state may not come through with the $200,000 it promised the town for the project because of the state budget deficit.

Simmons said Tuesday the town has not yet received the final paperwork for the funding. He said the $200,000 is among $1.4 million in promised state aid for road repairs, Town Dock improvements and the design of the Route 27 transportation improvements that the town still is awaiting.

He said the town is proceeding “very systematically” because of the many facets of the project, ranging from environmental cleanup to traffic.

“We have to do this right. It will take time,” he said. “We’re going to be careful with the people’s money.”

He said the Mystic River Boathouse Park Committee is scheduled to meet July 24 to approve a contract with Kent + Frost to design the master plan. On Sept. 9, Simmons said, the town will hold a public informational meeting to present the preliminary plans and get feedback from residents. Kent + Frost then will finalize its plan.

Meanwhile, Simmons said the environmental assessment work will be taking place and decisions will be made about the removal of a house on the site and what to do with a tunnel that runs under Route 27 from the property.

The tunnel was once used for a railway to ferry coal that was unloaded along the Mystic River to the Rossie Velvet Mill across the street. It then hauled slag, a byproduct of coal burning, back across the street to be dumped in the river. A large portion of the boathouse site park was formed by slag.

The town is expected to seek approval for the project from the Planning and Zoning Commission sometime next year. No date has yet been set for the start of construction.

Simmons said the park will be a “spectacular asset” that will provide permanent access to the river for residents and enhance the gateway to Mystic.

Last year, residents approved $2.2 million in borrowing to create the public park and the town closed on the $1.67 million purchase of the 1.5-acre property on Route 27 just north of Mystic Seaport in January.

The town also has reached an agreement with the Friends of Stonington Crew, in which the organization will raise money and construct a dock and boathouse on the property for use by the Stonington High School crew team and the public.