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| Edgewood Park Duck Pond Improvements - Layout Plan |
I'm helping to keep the neighborhood up-to-date on this project. Connecticut Fund for the Environment is managing this project and working in close cooperation with the City and Friends of Edgewood Park (FOEP). Here are a couple pix and the Layout Plan (click here for pdf) of the work just begun around the Edgewood Park Duck Pond and a brief overview of the project from Save the Sound's John Champion:
The construction of two restoration projects on the West
River began early in January. Save the Sound, a program of Connecticut Fund for
the Environment, is managing the projects which are funded by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the American Recovery and
Restoration Act.
The
first project will install three self-regulating tide gates just below Orange
Avenue. These tide gates will replace three of the wooden flapper type gates
that were installed circa 1920. The new gates will allow more salt water to
enter the West River, which will begin to restore the natural habitat.
The
second project will insure that we maintain public access to the amenities of
the Duck Pond at Chapel Street. One effect of the self-regulating gates is that
the tidal fluctuation at the Duck Pond will result in a soggier area,
especially at high tide. Continued access will be provided by a raised walkway
and a boardwalk. Water will flow under the boardwalk as the tide ebbs and
flows. Dead trees have been removed and
at the conclusion of the project, native vegetation will be planted.
Terry
Contracting & Materials, Inc. is doing the work on the tide gates and
Schumack Engineered Construction is doing the work on the Duck Pond. Because of
the warm weather, the work on the Duck Pond has started and the project is
expected to be completed in mid-spring, depending on the weather conditions.
The work on the tide gates will follow approximately the same schedule but the
gates will not be opened until the work on the Duck Pond has been completed so
that additional water does not enter the system until the access project is
complete.
Milone
and MacBroom are the project engineers. Questions regarding the work on the
project may be addressed to John Champion from Save the Sound at 203.787.0646,
extension 101.
