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Third Community Center Forum Continues Discussion Among Residents

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What do residents want in a community center?

The primary appeals during Tuesday’s public forum about a community center included space to house arts, senior activities, a pool, an ice rink, and a general gathering place. But with those interests came questions: could a center be all of those things, and how far will the $10 million gift for center construction from The GE Foundation be able to stretch?

Newtown Community Center Commission (NCCC) members are using the Q&A forums to help understand the public’s opinion on what should be offered at a community center, which is now in planning stages following a $15 million grant from General Electric in the wake of 12/14. Ten million is intended for construction. The remaining $5 million is to support programming at $1 million a year for five years.

A final forum is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, at 10 am. It will take place in the lower meeting room at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street.

Briefly introducing several Community Center Commission members, NCCC Co-Chair Brian Hartgraves then shared their vision for a center that could “engage the community, encourage social interaction,” and form a “vibrant, multi-generational hub,” he said.

Mr Hartgraves told the roughly 50 attendees at the October 13 session that the only decision made regarding the center so far is its location: it will be adjacent to NYA Sports & Fitness Center in Fairfield Hills. In past years the town has razed several older former state hospital buildings during earlier center planning. The town also has funds and plans in place to raze another structure, making additional room for the community center.

There are currently no decisions regarding the center’s size or what it will contain, he said. He then opened the floor for comments, fielding first a question about why the commission limited the online survey to a cut-off date of October 10.

“We had to pick an end date,” he said, but clarified that taking the survey was not a vote, but was meant to provide the commission direction.

Resident Donna Monteleone asked her first question: “Who is going to run this?” Would it require a full time staff?” Who decides what is used, and when? She also queried.

Ms Monteleone recalls when Newtown Cultural Arts Commission (NCAC) had temporary storefront space adjacent to Caraluzzi’s market on Queen Street. A member of NCAC, Ms Monteleone said, “We need someplace permanent. Who decides permanency of what’s in the community center?

“To me, community means for everybody; some need things more than others,” she added. She also argued that the arts and a pool facility might not work together. “You can’t have artwork near a pool and moisture,” she said.

Addressing her first questions, commissioner Bill Buchler told her that the commission had discussed a possibility of hiring a director with experience in running a center.

Commissioner David Wheeler referred to the Ridgefield rec center, which houses the town’s Parks & Recreation Department. Commission members have discussed the possibility of about relocating Newtown’s recreation department to the new community center. Mr Wheeler noted that Newtown’s department is currently “shoe-horned in, at their current 3 Main Street location beneath the police department, and the Cultural Arts Commission is the same way.”

Discussion turned to the community center as an arts center with activities that bring people together.

Some residents agreed that the town has enough competitive sports programs, but that following 12/14, people turned to the arts.

Mr Buchler agreed, saying “The arts are great.” He then sought clarification on what types of activities and arts residents hoped to find in a center. Earning mention were studio space, performance areas, dance classes, a ballet barre, space for meditation, and music.

Resident and 2014 high school graduate Mary Kate Halmose later expressed an interest in “a new idea I heard,” about a radio station that could broadcast local news and music. She also favored an ice rink and pool combination that left room for the arts.

Limited funds could also limit planning. The money is finite, Mr Hartgraves said.

A community center should be “for the whole community, so I think an ice rink should be put off, arts should be a portion,” said Barbara Bloom. She also favored a pool with a gradual entry “if it’s affordable, but not for competition.”

Some swim proponents have been lobbying for a 50-meter pool with lanes that could host local teams and competitions. A pool of that size could be divided into section for several activities at once.

Several residents spoke in favor of a pool that could generate revenue by hosting competitions, for example. Others argued against this, saying a pool and community center should be for town residents, and not for hosting competitions.

Ms Bloom also said that seniors are one-fifth of Newtown’s population, and “hopefully we’re all going to get there.” The community center should serve the seniors and also offer a “gathering place, someplace to go when you’re stressed.”

Mr Wheeler then said there is a difference between the building itself and programming.

“Our job is to get to know your vision and recommend a structure to accommodate,” he said. “We could build a big box and fill it with chairs and everyone would find a way to use it, but we want better than that.”

As conversation paused, Mr Hartgraves again asked attendees who else would like to speak.

Newtown  Juggling & Circus Arts Club Founder John Wisnieff said he would “welcome a space where we could meet weekly.” He would like to see children able to sign up for weekly programs, and where teachers could promote self development and the arts.

Peggy Baiad brought the conversation back to seniors.

“In the beginning there was mention of a senior center, then an outcry, but I feel part of it has to be a senior center.” She has paid taxes “for many years,” she said, and it would be nice for seniors to have a place to go. She added, “I think we have to keep seniors in mind.”

Discussion temporarily turned to the needs of senior citizens needs, and the space constraints of the multi-purpose building on Riverside Road, which currently houses the town’s senior center.

“We need a spot where families come together,” said Mary Beth Dinoto. “We need to take care of our old, young, and families.”

Carolyn Fullman is concerned, she said, that with a lane pool her husband would be prevented from swimming because teams have meets. She also noted that the high school pool “is getting pretty old.”

Discussion turned to ice rinks, the possibilities of what could be held in a facility if the ice is temporarily covered with flooring.

Brenda Wurtz favors an amphitheater or place where concerts could take place. She mentioned art classes, and “most of all, a gathering place.”

As residents continued to share their ideas, resident Laura Lerman said, “I am concerned when I hear the word ‘regional.’ After 12/14, we all said we need a place to come together.” She felt something regional would draw too much traffic and create parking problems.

Residents asked for a price estimate on elements such as a pool or arts center or ice rink.

“We need to see what bites into the $10 million,” said Hugh Fullman. “We could give better feedback if we knew costs.”

Looking at the cluster of ideas for a pool, ice rink,  the arts, Ryan Cameron said, “Assuming we can afford it all, how do we get all things to work well together?”

Virginia Benoit said, “It’s critical to make it multi-use, not kids vs seniors, not arts vs ice.” Ms Benoit mentioned “one of the worst things that can happen, what I see a little of here — a polarizing thing and people dismissing each other. It’s the worst possible thing.”

Several guests raised the idea that Edmond Town Hall may be underused, and several wondered how the current senior center could be used if the senior programming relocates.

Susan Ludwig “loves everyone’s ideas,” and thought that a pool would offer a “return on investment.” If the final plan exceeds the GE gift money, she asked about the town’s Capital Improvement Plan funds (CIP). The CIP is a five-year plan for large town projects.

Mr Hartgraves responded, saying that the CIP funding “is a possibility, not a given.”

As the meeting came to a close, several last comments included those of commissioner John Boccuzzi Sr, who said, “Bringing the community together is key here.” Some residents may end up disappointed, but he said, “Let’s pull together as a community.”

Hockey coach and Newtown Middle School teacher Paul Esposito again introduced his concepts for an ice arena plan, which he has been promoting in town for several years, as well as . His plans have been revised, after researching other community centers, to reflect a community center/ice rink for Newtown.

He offered to share his research and “doesn’t want borders between groups.”

Closing the meeting, commissioner Brian Leidlein reminded residents, “We want as much input as we can get. We are listening, and our minds are not made up.”

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