2025 May Minutes — Park Road Association

May Meeting Minutes

Call to order

A meeting of The Park Rd Association was held at Playhouse on Park on May 15, 2025

Co-Presidents Welcome

· Park Road clean up walk was held last Saturday. Team walked all 6 walking paths, collected a lot of trash. Opportunity to offer community service credit for high school students.

· Resurrecting the beautification club, meeting in early June (Tentative: June 4 at 5pm). Town walk through will occur in mid-June with Kristen and town departments.

· Event Committee – next meeting to be scheduled soon.

· Governance, Structure and Leadership discussions starting.

Town Reports:

Economic Development – Kristen Gorski / Lauren Siegel

· Jason from Knox to share information for street planters. Elmwood sponsors 15-20/year.

· Jersey Mike’s ribbon cutting on 5/14. Teriyaki Madness is also officially open.

· Former Webster Bank building at 75 Park Road has been leased but business could not meet code requirements and never opened. Property now back on the market for lease.

· Babe: outdoor sign has been removed, but was open last night.

· Chocodiva now open.

· Ceara Market still working on renovations, likely to be another few months before open.

· Amusement Device ordinance amended to allow accessory games such as pool tables and juke boxes.

· Camelot 900 Farmington Avenue opening on 5/12, 44 units, 100% of units affordable and pre-leased. Tenants will begin to occupy today. 14 units in the 30% and 50% affordability received over 3000 applications.

· Park Road renovations still working on angled parking plan

· ACTION: Engineering to present at June Meeting

Town Manager - Rick Ledwith

· Earth Day rolled out food scrap green box program in several locations around town, including in front of Town Hall. App: MetroKey can help find locations and access the bins. Use brown paper bag to contain scraps. More locations to be added.

· Memorial Day Parade starts at Woodrow on Farmington and ends at Town Hall with ceremony at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Celebrate WH on June 7-8. Juneteenth and Pride Festivals on the following weekends.

· Questions on Vessel development led to general discussion on 830-G regulations and housing around town.

Police Department – Officer Joe Hopkins

· Babe has an open search warrant related to recent shooting. Hearing for zoning on June 12.

· Fundraiser for Parkinsons Foundation through PD with patch sale, link to be shared. In memory of Jen Bona, late wife of Officer Rob Bona.

· SROs to be reallocated to bikes after school ends in June.

Chamber of Commerce – Chris Conway

· Chamber at all time high for membership, just under 600 members. Third largest Chamber in the area.

· CT Business Day at the Bushnell on 5/13 hosted by CBIA and CACCE well attended. Speaker Ritter called West Hartford a benchmark city for affordable housing.