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Committee approves seasonal park and beach use permits for multiple Norwalk events
Summary
The Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Council Committee unanimously authorized a series of facility-use agreements for events scheduled March–September 2025, including the St. Patrick’s parade, kart racing, festivals and school carnivals.
The Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Council Committee on Feb. 12 unanimously approved authorizations allowing community organizations to use city parks, beaches and school fields for scheduled events from March through September 2025.
The approvals covered more than a dozen permits, including the Emerald Society’s St. Patrick’s Day parade at Veterans Park, the Norwalk Karting Association races at Calf Pasture Beach, the Friends of Norwalk Dogs events at Taylor Farm, the Norwalk Junior Lacrosse jamboree at Veterans Park, Coachmen car cruises at Calf Pasture, Vox Church’s Easter egg hunt at Veterans Park, the Rowan Elementary School carnival, the Norwalk Oyster Festival, and several others.
The permits were presented item-by-item. Presenters described each event, its community purpose and logistics: staging locations, approximate attendance and set-up/tear-down windows. Jason Grady, a representative of the Emerald Society, told the committee the St. Patrick’s Day parade uses the Veterans Park parking lot to stage participants and that the group’s turnout is “probably somewhere closer to a 50, actual people marching,” although the application listed up to 200 participants. Joe Barrett said the go-kart club was formed in 1972, described a volunteer, nonprofit structure and confirmed racers as young as 5 participate. Amy Rebecchi, president of Norwalk Junior Lacrosse, said the organization uses the jamboree as its largest fundraiser and to subsidize fees for Norwalk residents.
Committee members and staff noted most of the events are longstanding community traditions. Staff and organizers confirmed logistics such as porta‑potties, off‑site parking, police presence for crowd control when required and vendor/tent layouts. For the Rowan Elementary carnival and other school events organizers said they use the same amusement vendor and setup the city has approved in prior years. Several presenters emphasized child‑oriented programming, volunteer staffing and nonprofit fundraising purposes.
Votes were handled as voice votes; each motion carried by unanimous vote. Committee members did not record individual roll‑call tallies on the minutes for these items.
The committee moved on to its scheduled discussion items after approving the permits.
Votes at a glance
- Authorize use of Veterans Park for Norwalk Police Emerald Society Saint Patrick’s Day parade (March 8, 2025). Outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). Organizer estimate: up to 200; presenter said actual marching count likely closer to 50. Mover: Heather Dunn.
- Authorize use of Calf Pasture Beach parking lot for Norwalk Karting Association go‑kart races (multiple dates March–November 2025). Outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). Organizer estimate: approximately 40 people. Presenter: Joe Barrett (vice president, All Wheel Karting Association).
- Authorize use of Taylor Farm for Friends of Norwalk Dogs events (March 22 and June 14, 2025). Outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). Organizer estimate: approximately 70 people. Presenter: Helen Burger.
- Authorize use of Veterans Park for Norwalk Junior Lacrosse “Pound on the Sound” jamboree (May 31–June 1, 2025). Outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). Organizer estimate: approximately 300 people. Presenter: Amy Rebecchi (president, Norwalk Junior Lacrosse).
- Authorize use of Calf Pasture Beach parking lot for Coachmen car cruises (May–Aug 2025, select dates). Outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). Organizer estimate: approximately 50 people. Presenter: John (Coachmen club president).
- Authorize use of Veterans Park for Vox Church Easter egg hunt (April 12, 2025). Outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). Organizer estimate: approximately 480 people. Presenter: Dan Camales (pastor, Vox Church).
- Authorize use of Rowan School Field for Rowan Elementary School Carnival (May 2–3, 2025). Outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). Organizer estimate: approximately 3,000 people. Presenter: Liz Letzky (PTA co‑chair).
- Authorize partnership/permits for Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival (Sept. 5–7, 2025). Outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). Organizer estimate: approximately 40,000 people over three days. Presenter: Riley (Norwalk Seaport Association).
- Authorize use of Matthews Park for Stone Museum anniversary gala (March 29, 2025). Outcome: approved (unanimous voice vote). Organizer estimate: approximately 400 people. Presenter: Mike Giacobbe (Stepping Stones Museum).
What it means: Committee approval clears the way for permits and use agreements; staff will finalize contracts and logistics with each organizer before events. The approvals were routine and typically described as annual events or long‑running community fundraisers.
Organizers and city staff were invited to coordinate final operational details with Parks staff prior to each event.
