The GoodThe Badand The Ugly One Towns journey to build a greenway - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Good…The Bad…and The Ugly One Towns journey to build a greenway… September 14, 2016 - New Milford River Trail Association Presented By: Dennis DiPinto, Director Brookfield Parks & Recreation

STILL RIVER GREENWAY 1999 - 2018  2.25 miles in length  Longest pedestrian bridge in Connecticut  $2.8 million to construct!!!  Phase One construction 2011-2012  Phase Two construction completed 2016  90% of project built in “regulated area” (wetland, flood plains)  Nearly 100,000 people use the trail annually (per Connecticut Trail Census)  Town applying for a $25,000 prize from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to recognize town’s efforts to improve community health

Setting the Scene…Brookfield CT Located in Northern Fairfield County in southwest Connecticut. The town is  bounded by New Milford, Bridgewater, Newtown, Bethel and Danbury. Population of about 17,000 people / 6,500 households within its land area of  about 20 square miles…All while enjoying about 10% open space. Median household income is estimated at $110,000, notably higher than  median incomes within in the 10 minute drive which is about $85,000 and the region at $76,000. First Selectman – Town Meeting form of Government  Annual Town/School budget just north of $60,000,000 Four public schools that service about 3,000 students  Brookfield is well known for; The Federal Rd. corridor…affectionately referred to by the “miracle mile.”  It’s location nestled between Candlewood Lake and Lake Lillinonah.  Being home to the first Chick-Fil-A in CT.  Families and community pride.  LET’S PUT THIS IS SOME HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE…

1999-2002 Laying the Foundation The Parks & Recreation Commission performs scientifically valid “needs assessment study followed by an “awareness campaign.”

June 2000 – The Mail Survey YOU ARE ONE OF 2,500 BROOKFIELD HOUSEHOLDS RANDOMLY SELECTED TO… Participate in the Brookfield Parks and Recreation Commission’s long-range Master Plan .  The purpose of this study is to proactively address future needs of the Community as seen by members of the Community.  With your help the Parks and Recreation Commission can determine your priorities in developing future public leisure opportunities.  You represent six Brookfield households, please take a few minutes to complete this survey. Your responses will be kept anonymous . Please accept the attached $5.00 “Rec-Buck” as a token of our appreciation for your participation in this “Community Needs Assessment Study”. Use it in place of cash the next time you sign up for a trip or program with the Brookfield Parks and Recreation Department. Instructions: Any adult member of the household on behalf of all family members should complete this survey. Your responses are anonymous and confidential. Your input is needed for planning future recreational programs and facilities for the residents of Brookfield. Thanks in advance for your participation! PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED SURVEY FORMS By June 23, 2000 BROOKFIELD PARKS AND RECREATION PO BOX 5106 BROOKFIELD, CT 06804

1999-2002  Results of the Needs Assessment Survey (right) show strong community support for the project  The survey return rate of 19% was strong. Most mail surveys among general populations experience return rates of 5% to 25%  Statistically, a sample of 468 surveys represents a margin for error of +/-4.5% providing Brookfield a 95% confidence level

2001-2002 – Creating Awareness Partial List of the Needs Assessment “Dog and Pony” show presentation schedule;  Board of Selectman  Board of Finance  Conservation Commission  Board of Education  Rotary Club  Planning Commission  High School Parent Group  Zoning Commission  4 different PTO groups  Commission on aging  Lions Club  2 Women’s clubs  Police Commission  Local & Regional EDC  Various public meetings  Brookfield Education  Parks & Rec. Commission Foundation “Movers and Shakers meeting in 2002 spawned the Multi-Use Trail and Rec. Center steering Committees. In 2003 both committees merged to form REC.

2001-2002  Brookfield established a new Recreation Enhancement Council (501C3 organization)  Allowed us to raise money for feasibility studies and other promotional materials  Local EDC support of $5,000 for feasibility study  SRG preliminary design work  Our Regional Planning Organization (HVCEO) awarded Brookfield a $440,000 grant (Federal Transportation Enhancement funds) subject to 80/20 cost sharing

2003-2004  Town Meeting January 2003 approves $110,000 in town funds (the 20% match)  Preliminary study shows that total funds of $550,000 are sufficient to build the project  Project comes to a stop because the 80% Federal funds match is not released until 2006 Grand Total:

2005-2008  TOB recommits to the state / project another $100,000 ( or did they ). This is 20% of what is now a 1 million dollar project  Preliminary estimates begin to soar mainly due to Bridge length, environmental issues and DOT required contingency amounts  State agrees to increase funding for the project as long as the TOB agrees to continue to pay the required 20% share  Agreements, supplemental agreements, commitments, and deals with the devil

2009-2011  Cost estimates continue to climb and we approach final design  Phase I is broken out of the project because: – It was the only portion of the trail that did NOT involve environmental permitting – It was VERY important that after so many years of discussion, there was “proof of progress”

Birds Eye View Phase I in Yellow Phase II in Red

Phase I Completed 2011

2012-2014  Final Design of Phase II completed  Price tag to complete the project is now at $2.4 million. Somehow we talked the State into staying on this ride!  Town Meeting and ultimately a successful referendum for additional $481,400 Grand Total:

2015-2016

2015-2016

2015-2016 Completing a Vision: Referendum passes 1,360 – 273  Bid process begins w/ 6 responsible and qualified bids received  More contracts, agreements and supplemental agreements…and then some more…  The vetting process  Phase II awarded and construction begins  Scheduled for completion June 2016 Now October 15 th , 2016

The Players  Project involved CT DOT, CTDEEP , EPA and Army Corps of Engineers  Coordination between all of the players is an exercise in frustration and lost time – Took nearly a year to schedule one joint site walk. Four different dates arranged – $20,000 spent on required environmental studies – $16,000 spent on required archeological studies

Permitting  During a permit coordination meeting, CTDOT’s Office of Environmental Planning stated that this trail project was “un-permittable”  A field investigation for the presence of turtles was required – “No turtles were observed within the study area although the southern portion of the Still River Greenway trail does have habitat consistent with that preferred by wood turtles… “  It still took almost a full year to get DEEP to sign off!

Permitting (Continued) Effectiveness of Site Walks 1 st time, DEEP showed, ACOE didn’t 2 nd Site Walk, ACOE showed, DEEP didn’t  As a result of each site walk, totally different direction was given re: mitigation ratios and how to proceed  Project Site had 5 Vernal Pools; which Buffer Areas of 250’  Extensive Flood Plain – which we were required to span Floodway = 160’ Flood Plain= 475’

Rights of Way No Way  Uncooperative Owners – Property owners were willing to donate an easement to use their property – Until they realized the donation was worth $530,000 !!!  We then needed to design AROUND them

Personnel Changes Over the course of this project…  Lead Designer changed 2x  DOT Program Administrator changed 3x  Town’s First Selectmen changed 6x  Still River Greenway Committee was reduced from 12 members to 1  ACOE Analysts changed 1x  Town’s Inland Wetland Agent changed 2x

Frustration Over Lack of Progress More Reaction to Yet More Delays 10-2-13 Email: “I'm the COE project manager in charge of reviewing the regulatory aspects of your project. I was going to present this today at our joint process review meeting with EPA and the other federal/state agencies; however, due to the furlough it was canceled. Today is my last day in the office until at least October 15th-- in part due to the furlough, but also because of scheduled leave from Oct. 7th - 11th. I plan to coordinate the review of this project with EPA once I'm back, and will forward you relevant comments at that time. For future inquiries about this project, please feel free to call me at (978) xxx-xxxx later in the month. Thanks, and sorry for any inconvenience this may cause!” Comment from the Town’s Parks and Rec. Department Director: “It’s amazing anything gets done!”