Seymour officials will be looking for volunteers and donations to help pay and repair for the flood damage done to the Legion Pool and its surrounding 2.5‑acre Joseph Nesteriak Memorial Nature Trail.
The Legion Pool is privately-owned park belonging to the Seymour Land Conservation Trust. It is open to the public and its pond is a popular fishing spot.
An unusually heavy rain storm July 8 turned much of the park into a raging river. Deep gullies damaged trails. A small brook that runs through the properties became a river during the storm, causing the damage.
Officials with the Seymour Land Conservation Trust estimate the damage could be $500,000 to $750,000.
Chatfield Park, owned by the town, is next to Legion Pool. Chatfield Park was also badly damaged. Playing fields were ruined from the flow of water.
Pedestrian bridges owned by the Land Trust were knocked out of place.
While the town searches for money to pay for the damage to its roads and park, First Selectman Paul Roy said he’ll help find volunteers to make repairs at Legion Pool.
“You remember how your park was built? Volunteers and donations. To that end, I’m going to write a letter to all the businesses in Seymour, and put out a news release, and (help get) whatever you need to help get this park back in shape,” Roy told about a dozen member of the land trust during an emergency meeting Thursday.
Alex Danka, vice president of the land trust, showed the crowd 300 photographs he had taken of the damage.
Much of the damage at The Legion Pool property originated from the playing fields at Chatfield Park. The flood water washed away dirt and stones from Chatfield and dumped it into the Legion Pool property.
Joseph Grabinski, chairman of the land trust, took the Valley Indy on a walking tour of the damage, including a paved walkway along the pond that had been washed away. Rocks and dirt washed into the pond.
On the Nesteriak Nature Trail, four pedestrian bridges were knocked out of place.
Volunteers with professional skills — carpentry, landscaping — are badly needed to help out at The Legion Pool property and nature trail.
Anyone interested in volunteering their skills or making a donation should call Danka at 203 – 881-3400.
More information on how to help will be released this week.
