Groundbreaking planned for new ballfields at Wolfe Park

MONROE, CT — First Selectman Ken Kellogg told the Town Council a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the new athletic fields at Wolfe Park Field is planned for noon on Tuesday, April 18. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2023.

“These new fields will provide much needed additional space for youth sports and other programming by building one new full-size and one new practice field in the area behind the existing tennis courts,” Kellogg said in his First Selectman Update Monday night.

During construction, visitors will notice orange safety fencing to delineate the construction zone from other areas of the park, according to Kellogg, who said the fencing will be installed alongside the basketball courts, behind the Wolf’s Den playground and up to the tennis courts.

“For the duration of the project, heavy equipment will remain on-site once delivered, however fuel trucks and large dump trucks will be delivering construction materials on a regular basis,” he said. “Construction vehicles will enter through the main parking lot — pool side — and travel alongside the basketball courts and behind the Wolfe’s Den playground.”

The footpath leading from the parking lot to Great Hollow Lake remains open, but town officials ask all pedestrians to use routes outside of these orange construction fences.

“We ask that everyone be extra careful while enjoying our park during this time,” Kellogg said.

The project, designed by architect Dave Sacco of TPA, had received town approval, but bidding was too high in 2018 so the scope was changed. For example, the town will now do stonewall work itself to cut costs. The revised project has the necessary land use approvals to move forward.

Town hires Solli Engineering LLC

On Monday night, the Town Council unanimously approved the hiring of Solli Engineering LLC, a Monroe firm, to do the engineering for the fields project. In an April 6 letter, Town Attorney Frank Lieto told the first selectman he reviewed the $19,350 agreement and recommended that the town move forward.

The Town Council’s Legislative and Administrative Matters Committee also reviewed the agreement and moved it forward for a full council vote.

In a letter to the town about its offer, professional engineer Kevin Solli, principal of Solli Engineering, and professional engineer Chris Pawlowski, the assistant project manager, outlined their proposal.

Solli will coordinate with contractors while performing weekly site inspections, construction administration and management, and provide a “comprehensive punch-list” to ensure all of the work is done according to the project specifications.