On Monday a Greenwich resident, Alex Popp, expressed concerns to town officials about trucks idling in the early morning at Byram Park, saying the park should not be used as a staging area for the Western Middle School remediation project, a Board of Education project.
At numerous public hearings the public came out in force to urge remediation of contaminated soil discovered in 2016. The fields have been off limits since then, and several classes of students have graduated without ever having use of the fields.
In a letter to town officials, Mr. Popp noted that as early as 5:45am on Monday there had been eight diesel dump trucks idling in the park until about 8:00am.
“Byram Park should not be used as a staging area. It is an environmental tragedy as the trucks sit running their engines and emitting diesel exhaust,” he said in his letter. “And, they’re parked illegally, horizontal across the marked parking spaces and directly under two osprey nests that are both active in the spring and summer months.”
Mr. Popp, who is a teacher at Riverside School, added that having trucks in the park for an extended period of time unnecessarily elevated the “soft costs” of the multi-million dollar BOE remediation project at Western Middle School.
Further he questioned whether the trucks had proper permits to enter the park, and whether Tod’s Point might be similarly used as a staging facility for the proposed Old Greenwich School renovation/expansion when that takes place.
Eight dump trucks idling at Byram Park on Monday, Jan 22, 2024 Photo: Alex Popp
Alex Popp’s brother Matt Popp, a local landscape architect who also lives in Byram, said, “Byram Park is Byram’s most valuable scenic and peaceful public locations which I walk through early every morning. The Park’s winter ducks, nesting Ospreys, Red-tailed Hawks, and Owls add to the enjoyment. The 7-9 large diesel dump trucks, all idling and loud, were a shock to me, especially since I’m on the Board of Parks & Recreation.”
On Monday, the director of communications for the school district, Jonathan Supranowitz, confirmed the trucks at the park were indeed for the WMS remediation and the district has been coordinating with them.
He said permits were not required to park at the park this time of year.
The amount of soil to be removed is significant and the district reached an understanding with Bimbo Bakeries that up to 30 trucks a day would enter and exit via their location at 10 Hamilton Avenue, behind the school.
Contractor’s equipment at the entrance to the field at Western Middle School. Nov 26, 2023 Photo: Leslie Yager
Supranowitz noted that because the trucks travel to Greenwich from southern New Jersey, and there is no I-95 pull off area, and not enough room on site at the school to stage the trucks, Byram Park had been selected.
He noted that the trucks typically do not idle, but on Monday morning the temperature was as low as 7°F.
He noted the location within the park was away from homes, posing no noise intrusion issues to residents. And, because the trucks exit the park via the entrance, they don’t travel through the residential neighborhood.
“This activity has been monitored and works well,” he said.
Further, Supranowitz noted the town dump, Holly Hill, had been considered for staging, but rejected because of the impact the trucks would have on activities there. The current location poses no threat to Greenwich Parks & Recreation Dept operations.
Byram Park is close to both Western Middle School and I-95, but Supranowitz noted the contractor would look into the possibility of staging the trucks at the weigh station on I95, just past exit 2.
“Since there was a complaint, the contractor is hoping to hear back from CT DOT and State Police to see if utilizing the weigh station is an option,” Supranowitz said. “That would require the trucks to navigate through more TOG surface roads. We may be able to do a hybrid type situation with a few trucks at each location.”
Weeds sprouting at a fenced-off field at Western Middle School. Aug 21, 2017 Photo: Leslie Yager
See also:
Tree Hearing to Reveal “High Quality and Tree-Friendly Design” at Western Middle School
Field Remediation Underway at Western Middle School, P&Z Approves Landscaping & Lighting
P&Z Watch: Cries for Real Grass at Western Middle School Won’t Delay Start of Remediation Work
Truck staging in Byram Park for WMS remediation week of Jan 18, 2024. Photo courtesy of Alex Popp