Community Corner

A Musical Afternoon At Riverside Park

Concert and cookout coincide with regatta

A lunch spread of burgers, hot dogs, clam chowder, and other food accompanied a youth band on Saturday afternoon as held a celebration alongside the start of the 146th crew regatta between Yale University and Harvard University.

Kathleen Mitchell, head of the organization, said it was the first major event held on the day of the regatta in 12 years. The race was once extremely popular, and she said the park was crowded with spectators in those days. The park itself included more amenities such as pavilions, boathouses, and docks. Mitchell said one goal of the event was raising awareness of the benefits of .

The has offered to purchase about half of the 18-acre park for $2.9 million. The school would build a cultural center, shipboard simulator, and expanded athletic fields on the site while the remainder of the park would be renovated to adapt to the smaller size.

Find out what's happening in New Londonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sandra Chalk, executive director of , said that such a purchase would lead to a number of disadvantages. She said the new , under construction nearby, includes an environmental curriculum which integrated the park but will suffer under the purchase. The entire area of the event—including a picnic area, basketball court, and area where the band Silver Hammer performed—would become Coast Guard property, and numerous trees would be cleared.

“This is long range planning for the Coast Guard,” Chalk added. “Maybe in 10 years, they’ll actually do it. But in the meantime, they’ll fence it off and take it from us.”

Find out what's happening in New Londonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Chalk said the park is an amenity to the neighborhood, and that a sale would reduce property values in the area. She said a sale would leave the city with a narrower expanse of land rather than the open areas that exist now, and would also inhibit efforts to reconnect the northern part of New London with the downtown and Fort Trumbull areas.

Mitchell said the park is an important factor in the revitalization of the Hodges Square neighborhood, but that the city’s parks have been neglected. She also criticized the impression that the park is a dangerous place.

“The most dangerous thing in this park here today is my grandson,” she said.

Mitchell said Friends of Riverside Park will take a breather after the event, as it is the second major get-together at the park this month after a on May 1. The decision on whether or not to sell the property will fall to New London voters at a November referendum, however, and Mitchell said other events are planned in the interim. These possibilities include environmental education, informational sessions, oral history projects, concerts. Mitchell said the group plans to hold a debate on the issue, but that she was surprised when city councilor and Republican mayoral candidate Rob Pero said he would on the issue to correspond with the regatta celebration.

“This is not a political issue. It’s about saving what we think is important,” she said.

Pero said he thought the event was helpful in receiving input from numerous people in the community. He said opinions included opposition to the sale, support for selling the entire parcel, and the stance that the Coast Guard Academy should be responsible for maintaining both the purchased section and the city park if the sale goes through. Pero voted in favor of the purchase and sale agreement when it came before the City Council.

“I think it’s a more manageable piece of property that would remain,” he said.

Daryl Finizio, a Democratic candidate, was also present. He encouraged more people to visit the park.

“I support Riverside Park. I oppose the sale of Riverside Park. I think events like this show the way the park can be used for the community,” he said.

Mayor Martin Olsen said Mitchell and the Friends of Riverside Park deserved “major kudos.” He said he met with people from all over the city as well as visitors from out of town.

“I think we had another wonderful community event today,” he said. “And for those who question the value and resources of this park, I think today spoke volumes with hundreds of people enjoying the park.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here