Town Of Watertown

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Chuck Berger, Watertown Town Engineer (860) 945-5240

Steele Brook Greenway Ground Breaking Ceremony

The Town of Watertown is pleased to announce that a Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Steele Brook Greenway will be held on November 12, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the intersection of French Street and Depot Street in Watertown.  The public is invited to attend.

The project has been in the planning stages for a number of years.  The long term vision includes a greenway/walkway along the Steele Brook corridor from the Pin Shop Pond area on the Waterbury/Oakville border all the way to the Smith Pond area in the northern section of Town.  The initial efforts have focused on the area between the UNICO Fields off of Main Street and the Deland Field/ Heminway Pond.  We are pleased to be working with the Siemon Company on this first phase of this project between French Street and Echo Lake Road.

The ground breaking ceremony will dedicate four “America The Beautiful” trees that were obtained through a grant from Department of Environmental Protection, Forestry Division.  Two trees will be placed at the intersection of French Street and Depot Street and two will be placed in the UNICO Field area.  The trees will be utilized to create an educational and dedicated Heritage Trail in conjunction with the greenway/walkway.  The planted trees will honor the original Connecticut Charter Oak, a Liberty Tree, John Trumbull, the poet of the American Revolution and Oliver Wolcott, the only person to sign the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and the Articles of Confederation.

The Town has also been awarded a $200,000 grant from the State Office of Policy and Management and Department of Environmental Protection to initiate the Steele Brook Greenway.  The Town of Watertown will be completing the design and permitting for this first phase on Siemon Company property with anticipation of actual construction beginning in 2010.  Future phases will initially focus on the area of the UNICO Fields and Oakville Green.  Planning documents will be available for review at the ceremony.

The ground breaking ceremony will include brief presentations by distinguished guests involved in the projects.  Light refreshments will be provided by the Siemon Company.  For additional information or details please contact the Recreation Office at 860-945-5246 or the Engineering Office at 860-945-5240.  Persons wishing to attend are encouraged to contact the Watertown Town Manager’s Office at 860-945-5255.