Ansonia plants cedars downtown as part of Clean & Green initiatives

City of Ansonia photos

ANSONIA - The first of many trees being added to Ansonia’s landscape were recently planted in downtown as part of Mayor David S. Cassetti’s ongoing Clean & Green initiatives for the city. 

Three five-foot cedars were added, one each at the corner of ION Bank on Main Street, another at Road Ready’s Adopt-A-Spot site, at Tremont and Central Streets, and a third in the park on Central Street. When mature, the cedars will reach heights of 10-15 feet.

By mid-summer, as many as 25 additional hardwood and cedar trees will be planted throughout the city to beautify city streetscapes and other barren city owned property.

The trees are being paid for through the Mayor’s Beautification Fund that is 100 percent funded through corporate and private donations and net profits from the sale of collectible Wakelee Ave trolley tracks.

“We’re open to suggestions from our residents on where to plant additional trees,” Cassetti said.
“For many years trees were cut down by the city and not replaced,” he said. “I hope these plantings will inspire residents to replace trees that they have removed with plantings or trees on their property.”

Road Ready has adopted a spot and will be planting multiple flowers and shrubs that will help to transform the lower East Main Street area.

Cassetti said homes with trees increase property value, reduce homeowner demands for air conditioning by providing shade, and help to beautify their yards and the neighborhood.
“I encourage our residents to join us in planting flowers, shrubs, and trees where appropriate,” he said.

This is a press release from the City of Ansonia.

Ansonia planning 3 beautification 'Clean & Green' projects this spring

Colony Pond at Abe Stone Park.

ANSONIA - With spring just around the corner, the timing is ripe to begin planning 2019 Ansonia beautification projects.

Mayor David S. Cassetti’s ongoing “Clean & Green” initiatives for Ansonia continue with the announcement of three beautification efforts he expects will move forward this spring and summer. 

And if all goes as planned, most of the cost will be paid in full or part by business sponsorships and net proceeds from sales to date of Wakelee Ave trolley track collectibles.

“We’re getting positive feedback from businesses in town who have offered sponsor support to pay in full or greatly subsidize three important low cost, high impact projects my administration is targeting for completion this year,” said Cassetti.

VOLUNTEER REQUEST & ANSONIA BEAUTIFICATION FUND

The City will soon announce an Open Request For Resident Volunteers to participate in upcoming plantings around town including the Mayor’s annual Earth Day litter cleanup. 
Also, an Ansonia Beautification Fund will be started that will accept private and business donations in any denomination, and used exclusively for defined beautification projects.

One of the first city resident in-kind donations received was last week by the Eaton Family of Ansonia who donated eight assorted trees for planting at Abe Stone Park.

The 2019 improvements and beautification projects include: 

ARMORY GROUNDS: Phase II Landscaping

A canopy of assorted varieties of wild flower, daffodils, shrubs, and evergreen plantings will be added to the highly visible Armory hillside. 

This follows last year’s extensive Phase I invasive vegetation removal and planting of 15 trees, rose bushes, and wild grass/clovers ground cover on the hill. 

ABE STONE PARK & COLONY POND:

A bevy of improvements is planned for the 25-acre Abe Stone Park and Colony Pond. 
Included will be restoration of the children’s playground, basketball court repair; installation of a volleyball area; adding more than a mile of hiking trails through hillside park woods and around colony pond including installation of nearly 200 feet of boardwalk; adding a pond boat launch to allow kayaks/canoes/row boats; creating a picnic grounds with picnic tables and cooking grills. 
Also opening this spring will be the Colony Snack Shack. Shuttered for more than 50 years, it has been completely refurbished.

FIREHOUSE/FARREL BELL RESTORATION:

Historic bell

Professional restoration of the large historic 1877 firehouse bell formerly located atop Farrel Manufacturing on Main Street. 

When restored, the bell will be moved from storage in Public Works to a new home at Webster Hose Memorial Park on Central Street for public viewing.

Webster Hose
Memorial Park

For more details on each beautification proposal, please visit: www.cityofansonia.com

Business or private donation interest to any of these or future beautification projects should contact Cassetti’s office, 203-736-5900 or gmartin@ansoniact.org.


Photos and press release from the Mayor's Office.