The West Haven ARPA Committee on July 1 approved several parks and recreation payments, including the final payment for Painter Park tennis courts, purchases of benches and nets, a guardrail replacement, playground staining and a construction invoice for expansion work at the Vietnam Veterans monument.

Why it matters: The actions advance completion and equipment installation at city parks and memorials funded through ARPA, enabling use of finished facilities and memorial installations announced by the chair.

Chair Ken Carney reported the Painter Park tennis courts — an $800,000 project earlier in the lifecycle — were complete with fencing, painting and nets installed; he said a grand opening was expected and that extra benches had been ordered. The committee approved a final payment on the tennis-courts contract of $159,000, which Carney described as the next and final payment on the job. He noted there was no retainage on that flat-work contract and that the contractor had fronted costs.

The committee also approved a $9,094 payment for benches and nets that were not included in the original contract and a guardrail replacement at Painter Park (Frank’s and Fence) for $1,240. A separate invoice of $20,306.44 was approved for additional work where a contractor had to bring in extra fill after digging down farther than anticipated on a different contract item; Carney said he negotiated that bottom-line number with the contractor.

A Milestone Construction invoice of $11,780 for expansion work on the Vietnam Veterans monument was approved; Carney earlier reported footings had been poured and granite would be brought in to add names. The committee approved a wooden-playground staining invoice to Wizard Painting for $27.50 and a Morse Field dog-park sign light invoice for $850.

Member Mike asked whether there was retainage on the tennis courts final payment; Carney said there was not and explained the contractor had already fronted material costs. All motions were approved by voice vote.

Ending: The committee authorized staff to process the approved payments and to proceed with grand-opening planning and installation of benches and monument granite as those vendor invoices are settled.