The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCGS 8-24 Referrals <OW N SF4 Z I Tiov ap S-� . Ul �'ti• • �� 1540 SULLIVAN AVENUE SOUTH WINDSOR, CT 06074 °soe•co� TELEPHONE (860) 644-2511 December 5,2016 Mayor Tom Delnicki Town of South Windsor 1540 Sullivan Avenue South Windsor CT 06074 Dear Mayor Delnicki: RE: CGS 8-24 Referral regarding improvements to eleven acres of farmland in Nevers Road Park • I am pleased to advise you that the South Windsor Planning and Zoning Commission, at its Special Meeting of November 29, 2016,by a vote of 4 to 2, is forwarding a favorable recommendation for the above mentioned project with the following considerations: 1. The two agricultural fields on the easterly portion of the property must be preserved for agricultural use and access granted to those field be defined by the Town; 2. The current Parks and Recreation Master Plan showing ball fields in this area should remain in the plan; 3. The Town makes every effort to find like farmland for the current tenant of the eleven acre field. Sincerely, Gary Bazzano, Chairman PLANNING&ZONING COMMISSION BP/Ilz cc: Town Manager Director of Parks and Recreation Clerk of the Council Town Engineer <p�N S fq4 o . TO-� 07e S-OU ?&U&0t w� 1540 SULLIVAN AVENUE• SOUTH WINDSOR, CT 06074 l�dSOR•co�� TELEPHONE (860) 644-2511 January 13, 2017 Mayor Carolyn Mirek Town of South Windsor 1540 Sullivan Avenue South Windsor CT 06074 Dear Mayor Mirek: RE: CGS 8-24 Referral regarding the"Kevin's Kourt"Project at Nevers Road Park I am pleased to advise you that the South Windsor Planning and Zoning Commission, at its Regular Meeting of January 10, 2017,by a unanimous vote, are forwarding a favorable recommendation for the above mentioned project. Sincerely, Gary ?azzano, Chairman PLANNING&ZONING COMMISSION GB/llz cc: Town Manager Director of Parks and Recreation Clerk of the Council Town Engineer 10wN 8 C t. C a • Tau� O-P Sau� ?Ai� 1540 SULLIVAN AVENUE®SOUTH WINDSOR,CT 06074.2786 oR-co AREA CODE 860/644-2511 FAX 860/644-3781 OFFICE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL December 22, 2016 Mr. Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager Town of South Windsor 1540 Sullivan Avenue South Windsor, CT 06074 Dear Mr. Galligan: At its Regular Meeting of December 19, 2016, the South Windsor Town Council approved the following Resolution: WHEREAS, any plan to use Town funds and to do improvements to property owned by the Town must first be submitted to the South Windsor Planning & Zoning Commission for a report pursuant to Section 8-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Windsor Town Council hereby refers the proposed project of Kevin's Kourt to the South Windsor Planning & Zoning Commission pursuant to Section 8-24 of the Connecticut General Statutes. Respectfully submitted �k. Deborah W. Reid Clerk of the Council cc: Michele Lipe, Director of Planning Lauren Zarambo, Recording Secretary Gary Bazzano, Chairperson, Planning & Zoning Commission Town Council December 5, 2016 Presentation of"Kevin's Kourt" Project with Craig Zimmerman, SWCF Board Member and Project Fund Raising Chair What is Kevin's Kourt? Kevin's Kourt is a fully inclusive basketball court designed by Kevin 011ie, Head Coach of the UConn's men's basketball team. His goal, and passion from the start has been to make basketball, in one form or another, accessible to people of all abilities. He currently has built a similar court for the Boys & Girls Club in Hartford, and has another one on the drawing board for West Hartford. He would like to see one east of the river and lucky for us, his foundation has chosen South Windsor! Kevin's Kourt South Windsor would provide 10-12 Bankshot basketball hoops strategically placed on a paved surface 50ft. x 40ft. or 2,000 SF. These hoops are specially designed with non-conventionally configured bright colored backboards where participants play alongside each other, similar to miniature golf with somewhat of a carnival flair to it! Why My Friend's Place was selected as the location? • Members of Kevin's "committee", along with Craig and I investigated four potential sites - two locations at Rye St. Park and two locations at Nevers Park. o Our initial thinking was to pair Kevin's Kourt with the existing basketball court at Rye Street Park to blend regulation basketball with adapted basketball and potentially accomplish renovation to the existing court at the same time. Although this really sounded great in theory it also drove the cost out of reach. o We also looked at the deteriorating tennis courts at Rye St. Park as a possibility. Infrastructure improvements that would be needed for accessibility and re-construction of the existing pavement also made this a budgetary liability. o We then turned our attention to Nevers Park looking at the southern portion of the front lawn at the community center. The elevations at this location created expensive accessibility challenges and a posed a conflict with the highly successful Farmer's Market. C:\Users\michelerlipe\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\OLKID8F\Kevin's Kourt to Town Council 12-5-16.docx o The final option was too look at how the court might interface with the extremely popular Boundless Playground—My Friend's Place. In very short order the group determined that this site was the perfect fit. The site selected needs minimal site work, it already has designated HC parking, it can tie into the existing playground accessible sidewalk system at a nominal cost, and it provides another exciting and different option for current and new users of all abilities already attracted to this park feature. ■ Kevin's Kourt as an adjunct to MFP is THE perfect "fit" What's our "skin in the game" so to speak? The Parks & Recreation Department has committed to being actively involved in this project. • By utilizing the talents and strengths of our parks crew and equipment on hand, we can handle nearly $9,000 of the estimated cost of the project including things like" o Installing erosion control and safety fencing o Stripping and removal of top soil o Grading and compacting imported fill as a base for asphalt o Installation of the basketball posts, backboards & rims o Site finishing: re-loaming edges around paved surface, grading, raking & seeding disturbed areas. We do respectfully request that the Council refer this project to PZC as a change order as it is an improvement to an existing park feature (playground). The Park & Recreation Commission is not only aware of this project, but enthusiastically supports it. They are ready to provide written documentation as needed. The goal is to have this facility completed in time for the 1 Oth anniversary celebration of MFP in late June, 2018! This will be an exciting addition to our park system. We are honored that Kevin 011ie's organization has selected South Windsor as a recipient of the first Kevin's Kourt east of the river! We hope you will al agree! I want to thank the SW Community Foundation for committing to this project and to Craig Zimmerman for stepping up to chair the fund raising efforts needed to get this done. C:\Users\michelerlipe\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\OLKIDBF\Kevin's Kourt to Town Council 12-5-16.docx