West Hartford committee reviews Kennedy Park master plan with $9–9.5 million estimate

The Human and Community Services Committee on Oct. 1 reviewed a consultant-prepared master plan for Kennedy Park that recommends improving pedestrian access, adding an entry plaza and redistributing parking to better serve courts and fields. Emily Weckman of Weston and Sampson told the committee that the firm delivered a report documenting the process and timeline and that the town now “has a community informed plan.”

The preferred plan combines elements from two earlier concepts and emphasizes preserving mature trees, improving ADA access, and creating continuous walking loops connecting the pool, courts and play areas. Consultant Ying Zheng said the planning-level cost estimate was "around 9 to $9,500,000," and the report recommends implementing improvements in phases tied to funding availability. Town Manager Rick Ledworth said the document will help the town pursue grants and fold projects into the capital improvement program over multiple years.

"This deliverable is in the hands of the town," Emily Weckman said during the presentation. She and consultant Ying Zheng also highlighted that the outreach included an online survey and a July public meeting that informed the preferred design.

Committee members and staff said the plan is a blueprint rather than a construction-ready design and emphasized that specific elements — lighting, exact parking counts and timing — will be decided later as the town refines cost estimates and pursues funding. The consultants and town staff said the plan allows flexibility to scale parking and phase work so that immediate needs can be addressed first while larger elements await funding.