Invasive Plants Removed From Ansonia Armory Grounds

contributed

A “before” picture showing invasive species growing in front of the Ansonia Armory.

ANSONIA —  City and business officials gathered Friday to celebrate the removal of a dense thicket of ugly overgrown vegetation on the grounds of the historic Ansonia National Guard Armory on State Street.

In its place, dozens of new trees, flowers and bushes have been planted, thanks to $7,500 in donations from private businesses.

In addition, a low-maintenance” ground cover will be put in to complement the plantings unveiled Friday.

That hasn’t happened yet, so the grounds were still looking a bit rough as officials gathered to celebrate the work — but much better than the weedy thicket previously consuming the area. 

Constituent Services Director Greg Martin said within two to three years, the new plantings will fill in nicely and offer a dramatic visual turnaround versus what it was.”

Ethan fry photo

From left to right: State Sen. George Logan, State Rep. Linda Gentile, Dale Simonds of Southern Connecticut Dental Group, Chuck Boulier of Ion Bank, Beth Nesteriak of Regional Water Authority, former Ansonia Mayor Tom Clifford of Regional Water Authority, Mayor David Cassetti.

The work was performed by D&J Landscaping of Trumbull thanks to contributions from Ion Bank, the Regional Water Authority, and the Southern Connecticut Dental Group.

At a ribbon-cutting Friday Mayor David Cassetti thanked the businesses for donating to the effort.

“Thank you all for your generous sponsorship,” he said. “For decades, every time driving by this hill has been a thorn in my side regarding its previous appearance.”

The improvements celebrated Friday focused on the space in front of the building, fronting State and North Main streets. The mayor said more sprucing up is in the works for the other side of the property, adjacent to the grounds of the Assumption Church.

The landscaping work happened as the building itself — dating back to the 1920s — has gotten about $500,000 in renovations thanks to a state grant.

In addition to removing invasive vegetation from the front of the property, 16 trees were planted, including flowering pear, cherry, crabapple, dogwood, Rose of Sharon and and maple. Several rose bushes and black-eyed Susans dot the grounds as well.

Later this month, a ground cover of white Dutch clover and golden sedum will be planted which will help prevent erosion.

A rusted chain link fence on top of a retaining wall along North Main Street was also replaced.

Martin oversaw the project.

The work is part of a handful of cleanup projects rolled out by the city since last year, including volunteer litter pickups, graffiti removal, and an “Adopt-A-Spot” program, to name a few.
The improvements unveiled at the Armory Friday will also cost less to maintain, the mayor said.

“For decades, maintaining the Armory grounds has been a resource drain on Public Works and quite frankly, an eyesore,” Cassetti said in a statement announcing the work. “This is a first major step in upgrading the appearance of an historic and highly visible city property.”

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