‘Farewell Dickinson Pond’—

Burying The Past,

Literally, At Town Park

By Kendra Bobowick

The cascades of soil spilling into the town created Dickinson Pond this week from the backs of town trucks were dismaying to Parks and Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian.

Roughly three weeks of work will cover with finality more than 50 years of town history as heavy equipment flattens the last loads of soil over the town’s longstanding swimming hole.

“It’s a sad, sad day for me,” she said. “Another piece of Newtown’s History is going…it’s going to make me cry.”

Dickinson Pond no longer measures up to regulations.

Specifically, Ms Kasbarian explained, “It no longer meets health codes as far as the amount of water.” Essentially, Dickinson needs to have more gallons of water per person, per day. Upgrades “would have been very cost prohibitive.”

The price of renovating the facility to meet State Bathing Codes are too high, as indicated in the Parks & Recreation Spring/Summer Preview 2006. On the cover of the Preview are images of residents enjoying summer days spent splashing through the pond. Inside is a formal “Farewell Dickinson Pond” from Ms Kasbarian.

Not alone in her displeasure, Ms Kasbarian has heard several protests.

“People are just very sad, and quite a few I spoke with are disappointed,” Ms Kasbarian said.

Dickinson Park has traditionally been the site of various summer camps and programs, including swimming lessons. Some parents now have reservations about losing the pool area.

“Some are concerned that the kids in the camp won’t have swimming,” she said.

Solutions including putting in a new pool at Dickinson were quickly dismissed.

“It was very, very cost prohibitive,” Ms Kasbarian said. A new pool estimate came in at $5 million. The high price incorporated more than just a pool.

“A lot of that includes sewers, water supply and drainage,” Ms Kasbarian said. The Parks and recreation Department is “researching other things,” she said.

Some speculative conversation focused on possibilities of sprinklers or slides, but neither choice is viable in Ms Kasbarian’s eyes. “We have a water pressure problem, and as far as slides, we would have to figure out where the water would come from,” she said.

Children’s comfort is still a priority.

“We are concentrating on keeping the kids hydrated on any really hot days,” she said.

Other swimming facilities present partial solutions for swimming areas. Treadwell Park’s pool, the high school pool, and the recently acquired Eichler’s Cove have come up in discussions.

Treadwell may become overloaded with parents and children hoping to wash away the summer swelter. Ms Kasbarian spoke bluntly, saying, “Treadwell could get very crowded on hot days, and we will have to turn people away,” she said.

Eichler’s Cove does not appear to be a feasible alternative, she said. “That beach could never take the place of Dickinson, it’s the size of a postage stamp,” she said. Additionally, she said, “I don’t think it will be open to swimming this year.”

The department has to prepare the cove to comply with health and safety codes. Also, the boat launch abuts the beach area, and Ms Kasbarian said a divider is necessary.

The high school pool will accommodate swimming lessons and be opened for extended hours, said Ms Kasbarian. She also anticipates an open swim period scheduled for several weeks.

Also, the annual fishing derby will be delayed until late April as planners awaiting conformation on a new location. Dickinson Pond had traditionally been stocked with fish for the derby, then drained and cleaned in preparation for the swimming season.

Ripple Effect Hits Fishing Derby

Newtown Fish and Game member John Arsenault may have to cancel this year’s annual fishing derby normally held at Dickinson Park, he said.

He is scrambling to find a new location for the event he had planned for April 1 or April 8 of this year.

“Here is the dilemma,” he said. “We haven’t come up with a place yet.” One promising option fell through Wednesday morning, renewing his predicament.

Turning in another direction, he said, “We got a no for Hawley Pond — it’s an ideal place.”

Parking and sufficient space along a shoreline are two primary necessities. Taunton Pond has parking, but little room along the shore for all the young anglers. Participants through the age of 12 have at times numbered more than 300, Mr Arsenault said.

“We need a good size pond, parking for 75 to 100 cars, and shore space,” he said.

Without a suitable location, he said, “Our other thought was to just suspend it for this year and find a location for next year.” The fishing derby has continued uninterrupted for 20 years, the last 15 at Dickinson Pond, he said. An opportunity arose to fill in the pond sooner than either Mr Arsenault or Ms Kasbarian had expected.

“We had the chance and jumped on it,” Ms Kasbarian said.

History

Fifty years ago saw town officials’ anticipation of taking their first swim by summer. In contrast is this year’s realization that the final swimmer emerged from the pool last season.

Culled from the March 30, 1956 edition of The Bee is the following:

Excavation of the swimming pond in the Dickinson Memorial Park was begun last week by A. Sega and Sons of New Milford. The Newtown Park Commission reports that it has contracted with the firm to excavate a pond of approximately 150 feet in length and 125 feet wide. Aware of the importance of a swimming pond to the children of the town, the members of the commission are working hard to have the pond ready by summer.