There are currently plans to fix up Washington Park, including replacing the picnic pavilion, dredging part of the pond to remove silt, and replacing the aerator fountain to help keep the algae under control.

Thanks wy wief have been talking about this for years can't wait

Nothing has happened yet even the town said they were going to do it. Maybe wait until summer when it is all green.

Although they said it would be fixed plus the pond would be dredged nothing has been done.

Hello... I'm not sure if the scheduled work described by the town planner is in the current budget or next year's budget. It's likely in next year's budget, which means the work won't get started until at least July 1, which is the beginning of the next fiscal year.

Town staff is currently meeting with potential vendors for all the different park improvements. I will try to keep this site updated as I learn more.

nothing yet

Ok, this is what I know at this point. We have been told that one or even two aerators (fountains) will not solve the algae problem. A different type of system, which aerates the water beneath the surface is being planned. It is supposed to mix the pond water, which otherwise becomes stratified due to cold oxygen poor water at the bottom and warmer water above. If you watch the pond, you know that every fall or after a heavy summer rain, the pond "turns over", bringing up oxygen starved water that kills the fish This system prevents stratification, which promotes beneficial bacteria and other organisms that eat algae and allows fish and other organisms to inhabit the entire pond, not just the shallows.

I don't have an installation date for the new system.= but wanted to give a heads up that you might not even notice the new system when it is installed, except for possible solar panels floating on the surface.

Thanks for that update... very interesting stuff. Sounds like you don't need any additional expertise on this but I have a friend who builds and maintains koi ponds. Drop me an email if you'd like a second opinion or any other input.

It still seems a fountain wold be nice too have. On RT 5 and 30 in S. Windsor a business has a fountain and I have never seen any algae. I see that some work is starting this week hope it goes well

The pond forebay has been dredged and the aerator(s) have arrived and are awaiting installation. You should also start seeing other improvements to the pavilion, bathrooms, etc,

That's great. I stopped by the park on the way in to work today and saw the work myself. I shot a few pictures and I'll try to share them. Watch for a story on this in the paper on Monday.

Acknowledged by Doug Hardy...

Paul there's some good progress at the park. Let me know if you notice any stoppage in the work or otherwise. You can probably close this issue unless you want to keep it open until it's complete.
-doug

Paul or Doug (I don't know who can close this at this point),

The device has been installed in Washington Park Pond and is bubbling away, aerating and churning the water to hopefully prevent future "turnover" that causes fish kills. Can this be closed as well?

Thanks.

I don't know how to close this but the park looks great. I don't know how that fountain works but it seems too be doing the job. Would have been nice to have a real fountain.

Doug,

Paul and I can't close this out. There is no close ticket button anywhere on the page. Is this because you acknowledged it? Can you see any close ticket button?

Doug,

Paul and I can't close this out. There is no close ticket button anywhere on the page. Is this because you acknowledged it? Can you see any close ticket button?

Hey there ... I was heading over there right now to shoot a new photo