By Dionna Carlson
August is one of the busiest months for our Department of Public Works (DPW), with numerous projects underway across town and in Waveny Park.
Waveny Park
If you’ve visited Waveny House recently, you’ve likely seen scaffolding around the building. This is part of an important project to ensure Waveny remains watertight and protected for years to come. As with any 100-plus-year-old building, the mansion has faced some water infiltration and masonry degradation due to age and exposure to the elements.
A firm specializing in building envelope analysis identified key areas where water and moisture were penetrating the building envelope – particularly around the masonry façade. Their findings were presented to the Town bodies, and there was clear consensus that repairs were necessary to protect Waveny’s structural and historical integrity. Every attempt has been made to minimize disruption to events and weddings hosted at the venue throughout the year.
Also in Waveny, you will notice a number of other upgrades and new amenities. Over 1,800 feet of the Loop Trail were reconstructed from the South Avenue entrance toward the Merritt Parkway. For visitors to Spencer’s Run dog park and the Paddle Tennis courts, an accessible bottle filling station with water bowl for dogs has been installed. There is a new accessible path to the outdoor fitness area to the north of Waveny House, and decorative lampposts in need of replacement are being upgraded to lampposts matching those in the Downtown area.
The entire Waveny Park has been truly alive with activity this summer, especially with the many children who participated in summer camp. We’re thrilled to have welcomed the largest number of campers in recent years. A heartfelt “thank you” to our Parks and Recreation team for providing weeks of fun and memories for so many local families.
Street Projects
One of the most visible infrastructure improvement efforts – the South Avenue Aquarion project – has wrapped up its first summer phase before school resumes next week on August 26th. This project will resume after the school year ends in June 2026. In the business district, it was remarkable to observe Elm Street get completely milled, repaved and striped for parking and the safety of pedestrians over a short five-day period from August 5 to August 9. Most of work was done in the evenings to minimize disruption to business activity.
Smooth Tax Season and Commuter Parking
I also want to recognize the outstanding work of our Tax Assessor’s Office and Tax Collector’s Office in managing another smooth tax season.
As a reminder, commuter parking permit holders must renew their permits by September 2nd. Permit holders should have received both a letter and an email (email sent July 18th) with instructions for renewal. Any renewals past September 2nd will incur a $50 late fee.
Broader Issues
On broader community issues: First, the proposed sale of Aquarion Water to the Regional Water Authority (RWA) remains a significant concern. Alongside my counterparts in Fairfield, Ridgefield, and Westport, we’ve jointly retained legal counsel and voiced strong opposition during the July PURA hearings. A draft decision is expected in late October, with a final ruling in mid-November.
Second, regarding the three pending 8-30(g) housing cases, the Town continues to pursue all legal avenues to protect the Town’s interests and maintain local control of our affordable housing development. As these matters are still before the courts, I am unable to provide further details at this time.
Enjoy the final month of summer!
Dionna Carlson is the New Canaan First Selectman. Her leadership is guided by a respect for local decision-making and a commitment to keeping residents informed and engaged. Read more from Dionna each month by subscribing to her email newsletter, News From Town Hall. To sign up to receive the newsletter visit newcanaan.info and click on the red bar at top, Sign Up For Alerts. To read the latest issue of the newsletter, visit newcanaan.info and click on the yellow bar at top, News From Town Hall.
