Town officials on Tuesday approved a $20,000 contract—nearly all of that to be funded privately—to install wooden handrails over two culverts on newly upgraded trails at Waveny.
The new handrails will be installed on either side of the trail as it crosses this culvert and another one in Waveny. Credit: Michael Dinan
The work by Wilton-based Riverside Fence is a final touch from the nonprofit Waveny Park Conservancy on the organization’s improved trails running from South Avenue to the four-way along the main road through the park, according to Tiger Mann, New Canaan’s public works director.
“The Conservancy would like to see a couple of handrails put over the top for fall protection,” Mann told members of the Board of Selectmen at their regular meeting, held in Town Hall.
The Conservancy is paying for all but $1,000 of the work, Mann said.
Keith Simpson, a prominent landscape architect in town who is a member of the Conservancy’s board of directors, solicited the quote from Riverside Fence—the same company that installed the new footbridge he designed at Mead Park to complete the Gold Star Walk.
First Selectman Rob Mallozzi and Selectmen Beth Jones and Nick Williams voted 3-0 for the contract.
“They did a beautiful job with the Mead Park bridge,” Jones said.
Mann said the town can expect the same “as far as quality and workmanship” at Waveny.
Mallozzi said the culvert work already done along the Waveny trail came out “spectacularly.”
A “beautiful job,” Mallozzi said.
Williams added: “It’s never looked better.”