Norwich Considers Future Of Harbor
Reconstruction of city pier praised as timely
By Claire Bessette Published on 6/23/2009
Norwich - If the city's 350th anniversary celebration been held a few years ago, the gathering of VIPs, a symphony band and a contingent holding aloft a giant American flag at the Howard T. Brown Memorial Park might have found themselves in Norwich Harbor.
The celebration to welcome the American Veterans Traveling Tribute was centered at the newly-constructed city pier at Brown Park.
About five years earlier, city officials were forced to seal off the rotting remains of the old wooden city pier, despite protests from organizations hosting popular celebrations at the waterfront park.
”I think if we had the weight on this dock that we had (last week) on the old dock, I think it would have collapsed,” Harbor Management Commission Chairman Ronald Aliano said Monday.
The commission held its meeting at the park Monday to get a close-up look at the new facility that opened a few days before the city kicked off the monthlong 350th anniversary celebration June 6. Aliano said the commission should feel proud of the results of its efforts, and he thanked city Public Works Director Joseph Loyacano for seeing the project to completion.
The pier will see heavy use again this weekend, with three laser light shows planned Friday through Sunday during Harbor Day weekend.
”I think this came out very, very nicely,” Aliano said.
The commission didn't linger on self-praise, however, turning to the left of the pier to discuss the hope of building a handicapped-access fishing pier in that area. To the right, a project to restore the sagging seawall at the water's edge is still under way.
And straight ahead on the public dock pilings, the commission would like to erect several signs reminding boaters that the harbor is a no-wake zone, with a 5 mph maximum speed. Commission members who arrived early for the meeting saw first-hand the rocking of boats docked at the marina when a small sporty boat speeded through the harbor leaving a wake.
The seawall reconstruction and the city pier cost a combined total of $1.5 million, using a $1 million grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection and a $500,000 contribution from the city - essentially the cost of the city pier.
The new pier consists of synthetic deck planking and a green metal railing along the waterfront. No fishing will be allowed off the new pier for safety reasons, City Manager Alan Bergren explained. You can't have fishermen casting lines with pedestrians standing behind them, he said.
But there is no money for the proposed new fishing pier, which would have bait and fish cleaning stations and handicapped access. Bergren said a rough estimate for the project is $600,000.
The commission took a brief recess in its meeting to move to the Marina at American Wharf for a waterside look at the pier. Aliano said he would like to find some money for a cosmetic upgrade to the pier.
From the water, boaters will see a plain concrete gray structure as they enter the harbor. Aliano said the original design called for the concrete to be dyed the same dark green color of the railing, but that wasn't done. Now, he suggested the city try to find some money to design a fake granite façade, perhaps with roses “carved” into the façade to match the design directly across the harbor at the retaining wall beneath the city police station.
The group then moved indoors to the marina restaurant to finish business. Bergren said the city has applied for a $500,000 federal stimulus grant to add to the wall reconstruction project, but officials have not heard whether the city would get the grant. Aliano added that he is looking into the possibility of federal stimulus money aimed directly at waterfront improvements, or even to harbor management commissions.
"Norwich-CT"
Reconstruction of city pier praised as timely
By Claire Bessette Published on 6/23/2009
Norwich - If the city's 350th anniversary celebration been held a few years ago, the gathering of VIPs, a symphony band and a contingent holding aloft a giant American flag at the Howard T. Brown Memorial Park might have found themselves in Norwich Harbor.
The celebration to welcome the American Veterans Traveling Tribute was centered at the newly-constructed city pier at Brown Park.
About five years earlier, city officials were forced to seal off the rotting remains of the old wooden city pier, despite protests from organizations hosting popular celebrations at the waterfront park.
”I think if we had the weight on this dock that we had (last week) on the old dock, I think it would have collapsed,” Harbor Management Commission Chairman Ronald Aliano said Monday.
The commission held its meeting at the park Monday to get a close-up look at the new facility that opened a few days before the city kicked off the monthlong 350th anniversary celebration June 6. Aliano said the commission should feel proud of the results of its efforts, and he thanked city Public Works Director Joseph Loyacano for seeing the project to completion.
The pier will see heavy use again this weekend, with three laser light shows planned Friday through Sunday during Harbor Day weekend.
”I think this came out very, very nicely,” Aliano said.
The commission didn't linger on self-praise, however, turning to the left of the pier to discuss the hope of building a handicapped-access fishing pier in that area. To the right, a project to restore the sagging seawall at the water's edge is still under way.
And straight ahead on the public dock pilings, the commission would like to erect several signs reminding boaters that the harbor is a no-wake zone, with a 5 mph maximum speed. Commission members who arrived early for the meeting saw first-hand the rocking of boats docked at the marina when a small sporty boat speeded through the harbor leaving a wake.
The seawall reconstruction and the city pier cost a combined total of $1.5 million, using a $1 million grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection and a $500,000 contribution from the city - essentially the cost of the city pier.
The new pier consists of synthetic deck planking and a green metal railing along the waterfront. No fishing will be allowed off the new pier for safety reasons, City Manager Alan Bergren explained. You can't have fishermen casting lines with pedestrians standing behind them, he said.
But there is no money for the proposed new fishing pier, which would have bait and fish cleaning stations and handicapped access. Bergren said a rough estimate for the project is $600,000.
The commission took a brief recess in its meeting to move to the Marina at American Wharf for a waterside look at the pier. Aliano said he would like to find some money for a cosmetic upgrade to the pier.
From the water, boaters will see a plain concrete gray structure as they enter the harbor. Aliano said the original design called for the concrete to be dyed the same dark green color of the railing, but that wasn't done. Now, he suggested the city try to find some money to design a fake granite façade, perhaps with roses “carved” into the façade to match the design directly across the harbor at the retaining wall beneath the city police station.
The group then moved indoors to the marina restaurant to finish business. Bergren said the city has applied for a $500,000 federal stimulus grant to add to the wall reconstruction project, but officials have not heard whether the city would get the grant. Aliano added that he is looking into the possibility of federal stimulus money aimed directly at waterfront improvements, or even to harbor management commissions.
"Norwich-CT"