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05/09/2023 01:42 PMTown officials welcomed 2nd District U.S. Representative Joe Courtney to town last week to tout Congress’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding results. ARPA funds partly funded the new dog park at Salt Meadow Park and is among several town projects that both Courtney and town officials toured last week.
Courtney also made stops at Madison Hose Company 1 and the Surf Club Playground, which benefitted from ARPA funding.
First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons has praised Courtney’s efforts in previous comments to the Source. Lyons said at the event that federal funding has been crucial for a number of projects in town.
“I moved here in 2007, and people back then were talking about the need for a dog park. There was some debate about where to put it, and that took several years,” said Lyons. “We are always looking for new ways to use some of our park space…so this became a great spot. The last couple of years, we got into the design process and the funding, and that’s where ARPA came in because our original budget didn’t cover it. This, out of all the things we’ll see today, is the least amount, it was only $20,000 of ARPA funds, but it was a great use of it.”
According to town officials, the total cost for the dog park fencing and upgrades was approximately $40,000, making the 50% payment a critical component of the cost.
“The fencing, I think, is really beautiful. People wanted to be natural and blend in with the background. Our Community Standards group was the entity that said we need to make this blend in and conform to the environment here,” Lyons noted. “So having these ARPA funds available to contribute to this project was essential.”
When asked why smaller projects, like a dog park or playground, in small towns like Madison are important, Courtney responded, “If you look at the Treasury (U.S.) rules that were put out after ARPA passed, there was clearly an emphasis, in terms of investing, in projects that will bring communities together. COVID was obviously the driving backdrop to ARPA and this obviously will bring thousands of people to this site,” said Courtney. “Secondly, it’s also outside. I think that’s an intended benefit. I’ve been all across the district, whether it’s new tennis courts in Stonington, a new pool in Vernon, where I’m from, some of these are capital expenses that drop off local budgets because they’re so tight right now. I just tip my hat to the leadership in the town here as they put some real thought into their handling of these funds. I think this is a legacy that folks will experience for decades.”
The new dog park is a unique project incorporating rustic cedar posting encompassing a wide area of Salt Meadow Park to the left of the main entrance near the Route 1 frontage. The small gauge wire mesh used to ensure canine safety is secured behind and across the posting and is barely visible.
According to park volunteers, though not quite “officially” open, dog owners love the new site, as there is plenty of space for dogs to take off running at full tilt with their canine buddies. There is also a two-gate entry/exit system to enter the enclosure, further ensuring safety during the leashing and unleashing of animals.
A local Girl Scout troop has donated benches, Madison’s MAD4Trees donated and planted a number of trees around the park, and more trees are planned for inside the enclosure, according to Beach and Recreation Director Austin Hall, to provide shade and interest for dogs and owners.
The group also toured Madison Hose Company 1, which was also a recipient of recent federal funding.
Madison Hose received a grant via the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2617), funding that they desperately needed to improve the downtown building’s capabilities, including as an Emergency Operations Headquarters. Those entities highlighted on the May 2 walkabout by officials are just a few of the many projects around Madison that benefited from the federal and town disbursement program, including; the American Legion, Madison Ambulance Association, Madison Cultural Arts, Madison Hose, and North Madison Fire.
The dog park is currently open for use, but the “official” ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new feature will be Saturday, May 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Art in the Park Festival is also scheduled for May 20 at Salt Meadow.