The Town of Newtown celebrated its newly installed Fairfield Hills campus Municipal Center gathering space June 5.

The installation was designed by Brook Clark, a Fairfield Hills Authority member and landscape architect. According to the invitation for the ribbon cutting event, “the area is designed to create a space that invites people of all ages to sit together, encouraging conversation and smiles.”

Pebble seats “attract children and kids at heart” to sit across from an existing bench along the handicap walkway to the DG Beers Boulevard entrance to the Municipal Center. A number of plantings, including two trees, frame the pebble seating.

The Jeniam Foundation and the Newtown Board of Realtors each donated $5,000 to make the installation a reality. Holmes Fine Gardens’ staff performed the installation.

Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman Ross Carley thanked the Newtown Board of Realtors and Jeniam Foundation members that were present at the ribbon cutting.

“You’ll find we’re very willing to let you do plantings,” joked Carley. “We love gardens.”

Newtown Board of Realtors Secretary David Landau said that they receive money from the statewide organization yearly, and are one of the few local boards to take advantage. They have been making similar contributions yearly.

The only requirements are that the project has to be a new, previously undeveloped space where the public can easily access it. The board donated to install benches at Tammy’s Garden on the campus last year.

“We have to come up with something original each year,” said Landau.

Carley said the new installation was the “beginning of a pocket park investment to continue the beautification of the property.”

First Selectman Dan Rosenthal expressed gratitude to the donors.

“These things that people step up and do often go unnoticed,” said Rosenthal. “I’m glad to have a chance to recognize them for making Newtown a nicer and more inviting place.”

Associate Editor Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.