New Haven Independent

Thirty Morris Cove residents who came out to the Nathan Hale School auditorium Thursday night for a public meeting on an evolving ten-year master plan for the park loved them.

However, they also expressed concerns about security, garbage, circulation of cars around the area of the carousel, and, of course, parking.

The park, which became part of New Haven in 1924, is some 80 acres big and beloved by local residents for its trails, bird-watching opportunities, and historic carousel, not to mention beaches and picturesque lighthouse.

According to the convener of the public meeting, Parks, Recreation and Trees Commissioner Robert Levine (on the right in photo alongside his consultant, Gary Sorge of the Hamden-based Stantec company), the park has not had a major renovation in 30 years. The wear and tear is a reflection of the growing number of people who utilize it, estimated at between 300,000 and a half million a year. On a busy summer’s day, Levine said, there might be 15,000.

“What we’re doing in this master plan,” he said, “is securing the park not only for current users but the next generation as well.”

The five or six general aims include better circulation and parking; amenities that will endure and be easy to maintain; a design to cope with peak summer uses; and improvements to the pavilion and other main buildings

The main features of the plan as developed thus far include more green, less paving; a wider entrance (although the ancient Merrit Parkway toll booths at the entrance will not be threatened); more organized parking, especially in the overflow area in the central lawn, utilizing attractive wooden bollards and plantings; pavilion improvements including canopy and concession; a viewing platform for birds facing Morris Creek and hierarchical plantings to attract birds; and a general organization of trails with an emphasis on pedestrian trails leading down to a promenade that will feature a more formal entrance, canopies, and a few curves.

The idea is to accomplish the work, which will not substantially change the look of the park, in some five phases, from the promenade and main pavilion area working north to the entrance. It should take ten years, Levine said. Funding will be sought from the city’s capital budget and every other source that can be scrounged up from the state to the federal level and private donations.

Attendees such as Claudia Basch (on the right) and Patrica Rahner said the traffic circle on the park’s west side near the ranger station and carousel should be eliminated or de-emphasized. Levine was in principle in favor of this. Others, such as East Shore Management Team president Tina Doyle, said access by car is essential for the handicapped and for the catering vans that serve some 80 events at the carousel per year.

Some sort of compromise, with restricted access attained perhaps from electronically controlled gates, might be the route to take, Levine said.

Former parks commissioner Gene Festa was re-assured that improvements to the carousel would not be “renovations,” but “upgrades” such as enhanced power supply, because the structure is a landmark.

Laura Moore was one of many making suggestions to address the massive littering, especially after events and on major holidays. She suggested Lighthouse Point Park follow the example of parks she knew in Rhode Island where every entrant is given a garbage bag. “It sends a message,” she said.

Tina Doyle said littering and not leaving the park at closing time were perennial and persistent issues ever since park security forces were discontinued some six years ago.

Other residents were disturbed at the illegal parking on their streets to avoid the parking fees; Levine said that was not in the purview of the master plan. The plan calls for no increase in the 273 paved spots, although they’ll be better organized and screened with new trees and plantings. The overflow parking on the great lawn would increase in capacity to about 368 vehicles.

The plan also called for kayak racks for rental in the area of the boat launch.

Chuck and Marcella Mascola generally complimented Levine and Sorge on the evolving plan. They asked for better signage and bicycle paths for their children, and these changes were duly noted. Marcella Mascola expressed concern that the carousel improvements would not kick in until phase four of five of the long plan, “and it needs a paint job and help right now.’

Levine said the carousel is an enterprise project. “It pays for itself with money it generates from some 70 to 80 events.” Her husband added that was one reason the access road down to it could not be cut off in too draconian a fashion.

In the current capital budget, Levine said, the sea wall facing Morris Creek is going to be repaired, along with the pavilion’s roof. But these are not part of the master plan.

Sorge said what he heard loudest and clearest was the need to de-emphasize vehicular access down toward the ranger station and carousel area. “That and the parking issue. But the parking is an issue,” he added, “that the neighbors have to deal with between themselves, their aldermen, and the police.”

“I guarantee you,” Levine said, “if you work in the political arena to get parking restrictions on your streets, if it means my department has to pay the meter maids to enforce, I will.”

The next step is one more public meeting . Then the full formulation of a master plan is submitted for a series of city reviews and approvals. The commissioner said the master plan, or at least parts, would be viewable on the department’s web site by early next week.