Submitted by Michael Armstrong, Vice Commander, Byram Veterans Association Member, Hamill Rink Task Force
As a Greenwich resident, Vice Commander of the Byram Veterans Association and a member of the Hamill Rink Task Force, I had the privilege of participating directly in the Town’s review of the Hamill Rink replacement project. I am writing to express my strong support for the plan now before the RTM and to urge its approval.
Last year, the Town made a conscious decision to step back and take a more thorough and inclusive approach to this project. The Task Force was created to do exactly that. It brought together a diverse group of individuals representing the RTM, the Board of Estimate and Taxation, the Byram community, and other stakeholders, with the goal of carefully examining every viable option and addressing the concerns that had been raised.
Over the course of many months, we did that work.
We reviewed sites. We evaluated alternatives. We heard from members of the public – supporters and opponents alike. Every perspective was considered, discussed, and taken seriously. This was not a rushed process, and it was not predetermined. It was deliberate, thoughtful, and grounded in a genuine effort to get this right.
The plan now before the RTM is the result of that work.
As someone who sat through those meetings and participated in those discussions, I can say clearly: this process was fair, it was thorough, and it was responsive to the community.
That is how these decisions are supposed to be made.
I also want to speak directly to an issue that has been especially important to the Byram veterans community: the future of the Memorial Grove.
The Memorial Grove is a meaningful and respected part of our neighborhood. It is a place of remembrance, and it deserves to be treated with care and dignity.
Throughout the Task Force process, that responsibility was taken seriously. The plan that has emerged does not diminish the Memorial Grove – it respects it and enhances it. It ensures that this space continues to serve its purpose while being thoughtfully integrated into an improved overall design for the park.
That outcome was not accidental. It reflects the careful consideration and respect that was given to this issue throughout the process.
Not every member of the Task Force agreed on every detail. That is the nature of any serious deliberation. But the strong, broad support for this plan – reflected in the overwhelming support from the public as well as the 8-1 Task Force vote, and in the unanimous approvals that followed from the Board of Selectmen, the Planning & Zoning Commission, and the Board of Estimate and Taxation – speaks for itself.
At some point, a process like this must lead to a decision.
The Town asked for a comprehensive review, and it received one. The Task Force did its work. A plan was developed, vetted, and approved.
This is the plan.
Sending it back again, or introducing new conditions at this stage, would not improve the outcome. It would simply restart a process that has already been carried out in good faith and at great length.
As someone who represents the Byram veterans community and who participated directly in this effort, I believe this plan reflects a careful balance of community needs, respect for important local assets like the Memorial Grove, and a responsible path forward.
I respectfully urge the RTM to approve the project budget and affirm Municipal Improvement (MI) status so that this project can proceed.
Respectfully,
Michael Armstrong
Vice Commander, Byram Veterans Association
Member, Hamill Rink Task Force