MERIDEN — The city and contractors have received several design and environmental awards for transforming a 14-acre brownfield into the Meriden Green.
The city has received a Distinguished Service Award from the Connecticut Association of Street and Highway Officials; A Celebrate Connecticut Award from the Connecticut Economic Resource Center; a 2017 Water Resources ACE Award from the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers; a 2017 CT Main Street Catalyst Award from Connecticut Main Street Center; and a 2017 Greencircle Sustainability Award from the Hartford Business Journal and state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Engineers Milone & McBroom, and contractor LaRosa Construction, have won awards from the Connecticut Association of Landscape Architects and American Society of Civil Engineers.
“All of us are part of getting these awards,” said Public Works Director Bob Bass.
The green, which cost $14 million, is also in the running for the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s Phonenix Award. The award is given out for unique reuse of a brownfield.
“We are now in the running for a bigger and more prestigious award that’s going to put Meriden on more maps,” said Mayor Kevin Scarpati.
“We’ve done a little more out of the normal box,” said Bass.
The Meriden Green and amphitheater is also becoming a popular venue for local non-profits to host outdoor music and other fund-raisers.
The city’s Parks and Recreation staff handle park maintenance and book concerts, festivals, food trucks, car shows and other events.
“This year, now that we have the amphitheater, it gives us the ability to go ahead and bring events here in the park,” said Steve Robichaud of Restore With the Arts. “It helps in the revitalization efforts by bringing people downtown.”
This spring, local schools also held concerts at the amphitheater.
The Twilight Summer Music Series had its first rain cancellation last week and #9 (a Beatles Tribute Band) has been rescheduled for July 29. Friday nights from June 16 to Aug 25th will be the Summer Music series, sponsored by Restore With the Arts.
The Meriden YMCA Youth Theater will host a performance on July 15.
On July 22, non-profit Concerts With Causes will host an all-day event “Rocking the Green” to raise money for Friends of Fisher House Connecticut, a comfort home for veterans’ families receiving treatment at the West Haven Veterans Administration Hospital. The event features an American Muscle Car Show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 10 live bands from noon to 9 p.m. Headliner is Hilton Valentine, formerly lead guitarist for The Animals. The Silver City Ballroom, 16 Colony St., will host the music in the event of rain.
“The Meriden Green offers a perfect setting for outdoor community events,” said Lisa Catherine, president and executive producer of Concerts With Causes. “Especially valuable to CWC is the beautiful amphitheater available for our music performances.”
There will also be food trucks at the Friday night events and Rocking the Green. Food truck vendors and others seeking information are asked to call Robichaud at 203-213-3752.
A complete list of events and artists is at www.meriden2020.com.
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