The design phase of the new Bartlem Park South project is slated to conclude this fall, Parks and Recreation Director John Gawlak recently announced. During the Town Council’s meeting on July 11, Gawlak provided an update on the project timeline, which is being handled by an ad hoc committee of Councilors, Town officials, and the Town’s hired engineering firm, Weston & Sampson. Gawlak said the committee has met six times since March 2. They’re preparing to submit plans to Town commissions, including the Planning and Zoning Commission, in August for review and approval. “(The) design should be wrapped up by the end of October,” Gawlak said. Councilors did have some questions concerning the project, such as David Borowy, who asked to see the schematic design prior to plans being submitted to the PZC. While Borowy’s request was approved by Gawlak, the Director said little has changed since the design was presented at referendum last year, when residents voted in favor of the $7.9 million project. Councilor John Milone countered that, due to increasing material costs, the construction budget will not cover as much as originally planned. “The struggle here is, while the Town approved a referendum of $7.9 million, that included design, contingencies, oversight, and other things,” Milone said. “The construction budget that the consultant is working towards … is much lower than that number.” Additional photos were provided by the manufacturer for the new restrooms to be installed on the site, Gawlak explained, as well as the layout of a 600-square-foot space for a basic concession stand, with space for wrapped goods, a freezer, a refrigerator, and utility sink. Borowy inquired about the exterior of the concession stand — a structure made of composite material — and why it wasn’t being built to match the existing brick buildings at Bartlem Park. “They’ve decided to use pre-engineered structures,” Milone explained. “Those other structures are designed and constructed independently. This is something you would get from a catalog, and the whole structure would come pre-engineered.” Gawlak added that other factors helped committee members decide to move forward with a pre-engineered building. “I think the other part of it is that we’re kind of driven on time and driven on cost,” Gawlak said. Also proposed is an area for live bands, which is expected to be a similar structure to one on the green in the City of Meriden. According to Town Manager Sean Kimball, the structure will be resistant to high winds. “They are very sail-shaped and (made with) sail material,” Kimball said. “They are tested, and we were assured they were used in the midwest and other places where they have some very, very high wind tolerances and wind loads.” Councilor Peter Talbot, who serves on the Committee, added that the cover can be removed in the event of a high-wind storm, such as a hurricane. The cover, Talbot explained, can withstand winds of 120 to 130 miles per hour. The Bartlem Park South project will remain on the Council’s monthly meeting agenda under “old business” for monthly review.

The design phase of the new Bartlem Park South project is slated to conclude this fall, Parks and Recreation Director John Gawlak recently announced.

During the Town Council’s meeting on July 11, Gawlak provided an update on the project timeline, which is being handled by an ad hoc committee of Councilors, Town officials, and the Town’s hired engineering firm, Weston & Sampson.

Gawlak said the committee has met six times since March 2. They’re preparing to submit plans to Town commissions, including the Planning and Zoning Commission, in August for review and approval.

“(The) design should be wrapped up by the end of October,” Gawlak said. Councilors did have some questions concerning the project, such as David Borowy, who asked to see the schematic design prior to plans being submitted to the PZC.

While Borowy’s request was approved by Gawlak, the Director said little has changed since the design was presented at referendum last year, when residents voted in favor of the $7.9 million project.

Councilor John Milone countered that, due to increasing material costs, the construction budget will not cover as much as originally planned.

“The struggle here is, while the Town approved a referendum of $7.9 million, that included design, contingencies, oversight, and other things,” Milone said. “The construction budget that the consultant is working towards … is much lower than that number.”

Additional photos were provided by the manufacturer for the new restrooms to be installed on the site, Gawlak explained, as well as the layout of a 600-square-foot space for a basic concession stand, with space for wrapped goods, a freezer, a refrigerator, and utility sink.

Borowy inquired about the exterior of the concession stand — a structure made of composite material — and why it wasn’t being built to match the existing brick buildings at Bartlem Park.

“They’ve decided to use pre-engineered structures,” Milone explained. “Those other structures are designed and constructed independently. This is something you would get from a catalog, and the whole structure would come pre-engineered.”

Gawlak added that other factors helped committee members decide to move forward with a pre-engineered building.

“I think the other part of it is that we’re kind of driven on time and driven on cost,” Gawlak said.

Also proposed is an area for live bands, which is expected to be a similar structure to one on the green in the City of Meriden. According to Town Manager Sean Kimball, the structure will be resistant to high winds.

“They are very sail-shaped and (made with) sail material,” Kimball said. “They are tested, and we were assured they were used in the midwest and other places where they have some very, very high wind tolerances and wind loads.”

Councilor Peter Talbot, who serves on the Committee, added that the cover can be removed in the event of a high-wind storm, such as a hurricane. The cover, Talbot explained, can withstand winds of 120 to 130 miles per hour.

The Bartlem Park South project will remain on the Council’s monthly meeting agenda under “old business” for monthly review.

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