The Public Deserves to See the Trash Outsourcing Report

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Art generated by AI following author's prompt: Report locked in safe The Enfield Town Council is considering a consequential issue: outsourcing our public works trash removal service. However, the town has not released the consultant's report, which likely examines the pros and cons of such a move, even as the Council begins its budget deliberations. The town council authorized the hiring of the consultants in November, 2024. On April 7, 2025, the Town Council discussed the report in executive session. I submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for a report copy this week. The Town Manager's office responded that the report is still in draft format and is not eligible for public disclosure under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act. I was also told: "The contract has not provided us a completion date at this time." That means the report could be withheld from the public indefinitely. Draft is not an automatic exemption This was my response: "My un...

Enfield finally gets its own Central Park

 

Freshwater Pond Enfield CT

The improvements to Higgins Park, the area behind the town hall, are giving Enfield something it never really had: a central park. This park is large enough for community events and gets many of them.

The town is adding parking, exercise stations, and "potential additional walking trails, a sidewalk connecting the upper and lower parking lots, and a brick-paved courtyard that would be built behind Enfield Express," reported the Journal Inquirer on Aug 5th. The new bandstand also seems complete.

Enfield has a lot of open space and walking areas, especially around the Scantic River area, but it's never really had a park that the entire town could call its own. Brainerd Park, in the northern part of town, is more of an area for that neighborhood. It's never been a place for town-wide activities.

Enfield's central park (i.e. Higgins Park) is especially attractive because of its connection to the walking path across from the town hall along Freshwater Brook that leads to Freshwater Pond. The area is gorgeous this time of year.

Also, wouldn't it be wonderful if there was some way to extend the Freshwater Brook trail to the mall area? A place for walkers and bikers that also extends to the train station. I can't imagine that happening very easily, if at all, but it's the type of thing Enfield needs if it wants to become a walkable community.
Location: Enfield, CT 06082, USA

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