Suffield's Choice: Babb's Beach Or Bridge Street?

SUFFIELD, CT — Town officials are debating enhancements to municipal parks and how state dollars, if successfully obtained via a competitive grant process, would be used.

At issue is whether Suffield wants to renovate and modernize the historic Babbs Beach Recreation Center on Lake Congamond or create the new Bridge Street Park at the old Bridge Street School site.

Either project could be funded with a Connecticut Community Challenges Grant, which was recently created by the state Department of Economic and Community Development.

It would fund anywhere from $1 million to $10 million for municipal projects, according to information on the grants on the DECD webpage.

At the May 24 Suffield Board of Selectmen meeting, town leaders discussed the potential use of those grants, with no vote or consensus taken other than to pursue the funding and decide later where to spend it.

Suffield First Selectman Colin Moll had Suffield Planning & Development Director Bill Hawkins, Suffield Director of Parks and Recreation Peter Leclerc and Suffield Facilities Manager Christopher Matejek meet with selectmen to discuss the matter.

According to May 24 meeting minutes, Moll said he favored the Babbs Beach Recreation Center proposal.

But Selectman Pete Hill said he supported the Bridge Street Park proposal, namely because it would provide another park in town for young children and it would be in a central location.

Moll said there are additional funds available set aside in American Rescue Plan Act allocations for
parks and recreation to, potentially, fund one project.

ARPA dollars are federal funds set aside to help municipalities deal with revenue shortfalls caused by the pandemic.

Selectman Jerry Mahoney said he is not in favor of the town funding either project but would be if the project were to be funded in conjunction with ARPA money and/or grant funds.

Leclerc, the rec director, discussed the results of a "soft survey" conducted by the department, saying he envisions potential for a multiuse facility such as a lake front hall that could be rented for events, birthday parties and weddings.

He said revenue from those types of events at a Babbs Beach hall would then include cost recovery and, perhaps, create jobs.

Selectman Kathleen Harrington said she favored the Babbs Beach Recreation Center proposal.

Selectman Mel Chafetz, though, agreed with Hill and said the Bridge Street Park proposal would be favorable to have an additional park in town for young children.

He said residents in West Suffield would favor the Babbs Beach plan, according to May 24 meeting minutes.

Leclerc said the grant will be "highly competitive" and the application reviewer will choose the most unique project.

If Babbs Beach is the chosen project, a lot of work must be done.

Matejek said a three-phase power supply from Eversource needs to be installed for the building to include heating and cooling, according to meeting minutes.

Matejek said the facility also required a septic tank, flooring, restrooms, plumbing and fire suppression.

Hawkins, the planning director, said he thought Babbs Beach was the better application in his opinion.

Harrington said the town should apply for the grant it has the most chance of
receiving.

Hawkins said he would move forward with obtaining more refined cost estimates to include in the grant application.

For the full May 24 Suffield Board of Selectmen meeting minutes, visit this link.

For information on the Connecticut Communities Challenge Grant, visit this link.

For information on the Babb's Beach Park at Lake Congamond, visit this link.

For information on the Bridge Street Park plan, visit this link.