The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Momentum builds for city’s riverfront vision
New boardwalk, railings, eatery at Harbor Park foretell big changes ahead
MIDDLETOWN — Upgrades to Harbor Park will complement the city’s long-awaited and ambitious plan for riverfront redevelopment that is hoped to become a “dynamic, multi-use recreational, entertainment and cultural destination.”
“It’s fantastic to see it finally take shape,” Mayor Ben Florsheim said. “There is a sense of momentum building now.”
The 16,000-square-foot wooden boardwalk and substructure, as well as the 1,600-foot aluminum railing system, will be removed. The total cost of the project is $1.05 million, Middletown Public Works Director William Russo said.
Community Development Specialist Lynda MacPherson helped the city secure a
$300,000 U.S. Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant for the $350,000 railing project, with Middletown picking up the remainder, Russo said.
“When we have projects like this, we apply for everything,” he said. “We can be told ‘no,’ but if we don’t apply, we won’t get anything.”
The city will pay for the $850,000 boardwalk project with parks bond funding.
The boardwalk “has served its purpose. It took an absolute beating with the elements: heat, cold, rain, snow and floods,” Russo said. It will be made of stamped concrete that resembles wood, which is easier to clean.
The railings will be replaced with a decorative picket system, according to last year’s request for proposals. “It’s going to be very aesthetically pleasing,” Russo said.
Once complete, the entire
length of the barrier to the Connecticut River at Harbor Park, from the boathouse to the pedestrian tunnel under Route 9, will be compliant with state building codes, according to Russo.
The cumulative effects of weather, flooding and time led to the problem, Russo has said. Several of the horizontal balusters are bent, with some attached on only one side of the guardrail. A good portion of the damage was caused by the ice jam of 2018.
The new design would ensure the safety of those walking close to the water, particularly children.
The director routinely consults Middletown Garden Club and Urban Forestry Commission members, as well as arborist Jane Harris to provide guidance on plants, flowers, trees and other design features. “A lot of different agencies get involved,” Russo said. “I like that. There are some very talented people on the commission.”
The Christopher Columbus statue, near the boathouse, was removed awhile
back from the south end of Harbor Park, along with the large, orange gazebo and picnic area. The plot, now a dirt field, will be seeded and have, at least temporarily, benches and green space for river enjoyment, the director said.
The adjoining rusty, corrugated metal retaining wall at the fishing dock and boat launch is now supported with concrete.
With the Mattabesett Canoe Club closed, excavation has begun. Already the pavilion and brick area off the boardwalk has been torn up, and the entire path is closed to the public.
The restrooms, with hands-free sinks and dryers run by motion detectors, will be relocated to the north end of Harbor Park, Russo said.
Middletown is closing in on a master plan for the riverfront which will determine the site’s design over the next few years, Florsheim said. In all, 21 visions were submitted to the city in February.
Revitalization plans include a new anchor restaurant, other attractions
along River Road, at the city-owned, decommissioned sewage treatment plant, Peterson Property (where the fire boat dock is) and the recently acquired Jackson Corrugated land.
So far, six “exciting new tenants” have presented their plans for an eatery/ bar concept, the mayor said. With input from people who have experience in such endeavors, committee members will narrow applicants down to two in the next week or so. “All the proposals are good. Any of them would be successful. It’s just a matter of finding the right fit for Middletown,” Florsheim said.
When a restaurant is chosen, the mayor foresees renovations to the aging canoe club to begin this summer.
Although entities that submitted ideas have been kept undercover, one, from the owner of the Flying Monkey Restaurant in Newington and chief executive officer of Hartfordbased Aquiline Drones, proposes a restaurant with drone delivery to boats on the waterway.