Sidewalk Improvements Commence At Vernon's Central Park

VERNON, CT — Work designed to improve the sidewalks through Vernon's Central Park began this week.

The park sits across from the municipal buildings in the Rockville section of town.

Vernon Town Administrator Michel Purcaro and Parks and Recreation Director Marty Sitler said the work began as a vision by Mayor Daniel Champagne to make the sidewalk system more contiguous around the green.

The project is costing about $20,000 from a sidewalk account funded by grant money and general account balances, Sitler said.

Vernon's Central Park features an historical sign detailing the history of the town on one end and the 1800s Cogswell monument on the other. Dr. Henry Cogswell was a millionaire dentist, temperance crusader, and philanthropist who pledged to erect a fountain for every 100 saloons across the country.

A bench honoring music legend and Vernon native Gene Pitney and a variety of monuments honoring veterans are also in the park.

Central Park is also the home of the seasonal Santa house, th9hgh details were still being worked out Thursday on the exact role the house will play amid the coronavirus pandemic.