West Haven Voice

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Scout project upgrades Sandy Point park

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Mayor Dorinda Borer (Center) stops by to view progress and thank Nico Antonucci (2nd from right) and the other Scouts and volunteers who participated. John Voss (Far right) built the original garden as an Eagle Scout.
Scouts and other volunteers lay the bricks that make up the outer ring of the garden.
At the end of the day, the remaining Scouts and volunteers gather to celebrate their success – and all of it was built in one day!!
The planted garden as it appeared on Sandy Point Overlook Park in West Haven prior to it having to be removed as part of the Beach Street Road Elevation Project.

Saturday, April 20th was a remarkable day for the Sandy Point Neighborhood and the City of West Haven. With support from over 30 volunteers, Nico Antonucci rebuilt a landmark City garden as his noteworthy Eagle Scout Project. The effort was recognized by Mayor Dorinda Borer and many community leaders and residents.

The original planting area that adorned the Park, flanked by Second Avenue and Beach Street, was completed in 2010 by then-Eagle Scout Candidate John Voss. Passersby have enjoyed the well-manicured gardens and “the bird” for almost 15 years. Due to grading related to the City’s Beach Street Road Raise Project, the garden had to be dismantled. Neighbors were afraid the park would remain barren after the road project, but Nico Antonucci came along in late 2023 to take the restoration project on as his Eagle Scout project.

Antonucci spent the early part of 2024 planning the garden project, measuring the area of the garden to be paved and calculating the necessary quantities of bricks, gravel and sand that would be needed. He then secured material donations from Tractor Supply of Orange (posts for center of garden); Grillo Services of Milford (gravel and sand); and Home Depot of Orange (loaned power tamper). The bricks, originally contributed by the City, were salvaged from the last garden and were recycled for use in this garden. Finally, Nico organized a large group of volunteers from his own Scout Troop (899) and neighboring Scout Troops (1633 and 633) to help build the garden on the 20th and worked with residents of the area to identify additional volunteers from the neighborhood who showed up to help with the project.

A number of local organizations contributed to the project at Antonucci’s request. The West Haven Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously approved the project in March and gave him permission to rebuild the garden at this location. Members of the Sandy Point Neighborhood Association participated actively in the project the day of construction and contributed funds to help purchase perennial plants that will be added to the garden into mid-May. Individual neighbors of the garden also made contributions to the plants and materials that will be installed over the next few weeks. The West Haven Beautification Committee plans to also contribute a number of annual flowers that will give the garden color through the summer and into the fall. A dedication ceremony will be planned for June or July.