What Do You Know About Fairfield Hills?

To the Editor:

In case you haven’t heard, Fairfield Hills is a hot topic. There are many great things going on. Let’s see what has been accomplished. Here are some facts:

Did you know there are 1.6 miles of walking trails?

Did you know design work is in progress for a Parks and Recreation facility and pool to be located near the Newtown Youth Academy?

Did you know an Emergency Operations Center has been opened as a hub for emergency management operations?

Did you know how many playing fields are on campus? A 90-foot lighted baseball field that is home to NHS Baseball, Babe Ruth, Newtown Naturals, and AAU teams of Newtown; two soccer fields that serve youth lacrosse and soccer teams of Newtown; two youth baseball fields that serve Babe Ruth Baseball with 1,400 baseball players this season; two softball fields that serve Sunday men’s league, firefighters’ league, weeknight women’s league, girls’ fast pitch, and Babe Ruth Softball.

Did you know the Newtown Youth Academy provides services for thousands of people? Parks and Recreation programs serve 900 people; fitness club membership is at 910; after school programs for the high school, middle school, Reed and St Rose serve over 300 students; Newtown youth sports teams that serve over 1,600 kids; 440 adult baseball league players; adult rental — 180 players each week; host to civic croup gathering for Rotarians, drivers ed, realtors, plus private parties.

Did you know all the events that have been held at the campus or are planned? Memorial Day Soccer Tournament; Relay For Life; Newtown Rooster Run; Newtown Health Walk; Dog Days of Summer to raise money for a new dog park.

Did you know the newly renovated town hall will open in September?

Did you know that Newtown has received over $2.7 million in grants for Fairfield Hills and has another $1.5 million in grants pending?

Did you know that future plans include a walking trail to completely encompass the campus?

What do Newtown Republicans think?

We believe the master plan needs to be reviewed and updated for Fairfield Hills in order to guide and focus future development. We want to ensure the plan aligns with townwide priorities, is integrated into the long-range vision and plan of development and is implemented within the constraints of fiscal realities, as stated by Pat Llodra and Will Rodgers and written in their position statement on July 30.

Fairfield Hills is a place in transition. We know where we have been and where we are now; however the future is less defined. As a result of the updating of the master plan, which we believe needs to happen, the next steps will be shaped by focused community input and will follow the normal public processes of capital requests and budgeting.

The Fairfield Hills Authority has detailed information on all aspects of development available on their website at:

http://www.newtown-ct.gov/public_documents/NewtownCT_FFHills/index.

Bill Brimmer

Republican Town Committee Chair

8 Hattertown Road, Newtown                            September 22, 2009