Dear EPRD B0ard Member:
For more than 30 years I have been and continue to be an avid supporter of the EPRD. I have purchased numerous punch cards and annual passes and have used both pools and both weight rooms extensively. When I read the recreation guides I find the number and diversity of recreation opportunities offered to the Evergreen community truly awesome, and I hope fore continued success in this regard. So, I offer the following observations and comments in the hope that they will help the EPRD maintain and improve access to all the wonderful recreation opportunities provided by the District.
The problem I have encountered at the Wulf center for the past year have a parking and safety component.. From statements made at the last community meeting it appears that parking problems may also exist at the Buchanan center.
The problem is existential for the EPRD because if a patron cannot park and exit their vehicle they cannot participate in a recreation or a needed conditioning experience. Parking is a critical element in current operations as well as f0r the current proposal for expansion.
There are existing serious parking and safety issues at the Wulf recreation center. This past winter and spring, on Mondays and Wednesdays between some time before 10AM and some time after 10:30 AM the parking lot has been completely full, all 121 parking spaces being occupied. Additionally, I have counted 20 and as much as 30 vehicles parked on both sides of Olive road and in the cul-de-sac circle at the entrance to the WRC parking lot. Patrons of the WRC and/or Wulf park do not appear to understand that Olive road is a fire lane for both the High school and the recreation center. With vehicles parked on both sides of the street there can be as little as 11 feet for a fire truck to squeeze through. The Fire Chief of New Canaan Connecticut requires a minim of 12 feet and prefers a maximum of 14 feet. Additionally a hook and ladder truck could not make the hard right turn into the WRC parking lot with vehicles filling the cul-de-sac circle.
I would hope that the the Fire Board and Fire Department will address the safety issue with additional fire lane markings during the summer months, making Olive road no longer available as auxiliary parking for the WRC patrons. It already has no parking signs. So, if the EPRD expects to provide for the same level of recreation and conditioning opportunities when school reopens near summer’s end, The District will have to quickly arrange for other auxiliary parking for at least 30 vehicles at the WRC. There are few options for an immediate solution.
To insure the safety of Wulf and Evergreen High School patrons and staff, the EPRD should collaborate with the school district to create a physical facility as depicted in the drawing labeled “Where we hope to be post 2023”
back to DOLA ====>