By Kendra Bobowick

A deer's triangular hoofprints skipped across a new, lightly packed gravel path winding through Dickinson Park. Crossing a lawn that fills the space where Dickinson pool once drew crowds to swim, traveling past the playground, over a footbridge spanning Deep Brook, skirting the pavilion, tennis courts, and finally the baseball field, Barb's Trail meanders nearly one mile until it ends in a small garden where Deep Brook Road meets Elm Drive.

Arriving at that junction Saturday morning, June 20, were walkers, including former Parks and Recreation Department director Barbara Kasbarian. She retired in the spring of 2008. A quiet moment replaced the sound of crunching gravel as Ms Kasbarian stood at a new stone park bench surrounded by a mini island of plantings. Looking at the message engraved on the seat, she read to herself: "Barb's Trail in honor of Barbara Kasbarian." The engraving recognized her years of "leadership and devotion to Newtown Parks and Recreation."

From behind Ms Kasbarian, where staff members, friends, and her family gathered, recreation commission Chairman Ed Marks said, "Have a seat." Unfolding a paper he told her, "I jotted down my thoughts." He reminisced, "I thought about being raised in Newtown. I attended Hawley School, played Little League, got gum at the smoke shop — we all swam at Dickinson." He recalled the nervous moments waiting his turn in a talent show, seeing a train pass, and said, "Most of those landmarks are gone. All that is left of the old playground is a tire tethered to an old tree." The Dickinson pool is gone, but the park remains, he said.

"I take comfort in permanent symbols like Dickinson and feel proud I could help preserve it." The trail is a "jewel" now adding to the park. Thanking the recreation staff including Director Amy Mangold, Assistant Director of Recreation RoseAnn Reggiano, Assistant Director of Parks Carl Samuelson, past recreation chair Larry Haskel, Mr Marks noted that residents have "new and upgraded facilities" to enjoy. Bringing his thoughts back to the ceremony Saturday morning, he said to Ms Kasbarian, "Every successful venture in the past years you have been behind." Indicating the bench and walking trail with a smile, he said to her, "You have been saying we need to do something; here is a start." He hopes she will remember the day, and thanked her for her effort and devotion to the Parks and Recreation Department.

Settling beside Ms Kasbarian on her bench was her mother Mickey Bistany. Soon her grandsons Ayden, Zander, and Austin Kasbarian and their friend Noah Dardenio stood with them. Also squeezing in for a family photo were Ms Kasbarian's children, friends, and recreation staff that had walked the new trail that morning.

Encircled by the trail's end-loop was an island perennial and shrub bed planted by The Garden Club of Newtown. Resident Brid Craddock's landscape design included the Forest Pansy Eastern Redbud that displays purple-pink spring blooms and offers purple-green foliage and vibrant autumn color. Coreopsis, bee balm, and catmint attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Red twig dogwood and grasses also added shape and color to the garden.