Officials Discuss Eichler’s Cove, Playground Facilities

By Kendra Bobowick

As temperatures back down from the broiling 100-plus degrees of recent days, conversations about Newtown’s swimming facilities arose among officials this week.

Parks and Recreation Commission members and selectmen again looked at possibilities at Eichler’s Cove — formerly a privately owned marina purchased by the town with roughly 60 boat slips, a small picnic area, and a small beach — during an August 8 meeting. The gravel parking area is enough for roughly 15 cars. The narrow lane leading down to the cove off Route 34 is a tight squeeze for trucks trailoring boats away from the marina with other drivers pulling in.

Officials hope the enclave on Lake Zoar can cool down some of the tempers rising at the loss of Dickinson Park pond, and accommodate swimmers in coming seasons.

Parks and Recreation Commission Acting Director Edward Marks said the marina’s improvements are “on their short list,” based in his impressions from the Board of Selectmen.

First Selectman Herb Rosenthal confirmed that he wants the commission to look into possibilities at the cove.

During the meeting Tuesday evening, commission member Patrick Barczak mentioned expanding the beach area at Eichler’s Cove, which unlike the boat slips and launch, was not opened this season — an issue raised in earlier meetings. Mr Marks explained that “[Mr Rosenthal] is pressing for improvements at Eichler’s Cove.”

With Dickinson pool backfilled and closed down by health officials, Mr Rosenthal agrees that Eichler’s Cove might provide some relief, among other options for water recreation.

“It would help temporarily and permanently,” he said. The cove can serve as an additional swimming area until a plan for a new pool in town is determined. The cove, far down Route 34 and bordering Monroe, also presents a permanent option to residents living on the outskirts of town, he explained, and to those who prefer swimming in lake water.

“We should look at the possibilities,” said Mr Rosenthal, who also talked about the town departments completing expansion work at the beach area, and possibly moving the boat slips to a different location.

Managing The Marina

This summer is the first season the marina has been opened to the public since the town purchased Eichler’s Cove from the Marchetti family. The Marchettis now manage the cove. Past Parks and Recreation meetings have broached the subject of bringing the marina under town management, however. Mr Marks reintroduced this topic Tuesday evening.

“I think we need to do some planning. Within six months to a year we have to make sure we are comfortable taking over and managing [Eichler’s Cove],” he said.

Assistant Director of Parks Carl Samuelson said that much of the work for expanding the beach area could be done “in-house,” in preparation for accommodating more beachgoers. Concerning the shoehorn fit of cars passing along the narrow drive down to the cove, Mr Marks noted that “we’ll need some creative driveway design.”

As the commission contemplates management and improvements to the cove, one area of concern filtered into discussion. With the recent onset of Shoreline Management Plans associated with a renewed federal license for the power company running Stevenson Dam and overseeing Lake Zoar, commissioners worry that Newtown may face a leasing fee.

Mr Rosenthal took a stern stance saying, “They’ll have a hard time convincing me — now that the town owns it — to pay fees.” He indicated that the private facility had never paid fees to the power company, Northeast Generation Services (NGS).

He explained that he has heard NGS may seek money, “But I have never seen anything official from them.”

Considering the town’s water facilities more broadly, Mr Marks said, “I wonder if it makes sense to talk to [Mr Rosenthal] about various projects and maybe raise the subject of a conglomeration of projects and look at short-term solutions at Dickinson … I think it’s worth pursuing”

All commission members agreed that the waterslide was a popular attraction at camp this year.

On The Playground

Commission members are considering options for replacing Funspace, the playspace built to the north of the former swimming area at Dickinson Park. Mr Marks explained that part of their concern is whether or not to duplicate what is there now, with “something that replicates what we’ve got, or something more conventional.”

Previous Parks and Recreation Commission discussion has acknowledged that residents are partial to the Funspace. On Tuesday evening commissioners looked at schematic drawings for one company that Director Barbara Kasbarian had learned about. These drawings are part of ongoing research into options for a new playground.

Mr Samuelson has some idea of the constraints their replacement facility will face.

“I think codes will dictate what we can do,” he said. “The big thing with playgrounds now is to elevate them for safety.” Mr Samuelson explained that those supervising the children will immediately see if someone is caught or fallen within the playground network.