New London committee directs study of festival grounds, weighing Hatton Park upgrades and nature-area master plan

The New London Park and Recreation Committee on Tuesday asked staff to gather proposals and preliminary cost estimates for a park master plan to evaluate options for dedicated festival and large-event space on city land, including upgrades at Hatton Park and study of a 94-acre Nature Area parcel.

The move responds to growing community demand for larger festivals and concerts, officials said. Parks and Recreation Director Ginger Soul told the committee that current event space at Hatton Park is often unusable because “the far southwest corner is basically bog land, with some grass on it,” and that early‑season or rainy conditions leave the site unsuitable for large gatherings.

A master-plan study would provide an engineering view of each site, including flood‑plain and soil testing, historic-resource review, programming based on public input and concept designs. Soul said a contractor estimated $10,000 for the public‑engagement piece — public meetings, online survey and commission attendance — as an initial ballpark for the planning process. The plan would also identify developable acreage, access points, parking and utility needs and produce an engineered design phase if the committee approves moving forward.

Committee members discussed two primary options: improving Hatton Park’s existing event field — including possible reconstruction and turf installation after grading — or developing the city‑owned Nature Area parcel. Soul said the Nature Area is about 94–95 acres in total but that only roughly 33 acres are currently open, developable grass; much of the parcel is wetlands and would be subject to regulatory limits on development. She also noted the parcel currently has limited access and “only one way in and one way out,” which complicates traffic and parking plans for large events.

Soul summarized a contractor’s caution about drainage tile as a long‑term fix, saying that tile can fail over time and “you’re just back to square one” in roughly 10 to 15 years, and that more durable reconstruction (adding base layers and turf) would be more costly. Committee members raised amphitheater designs, gravel or paved parking, and possible reuse of underused roadways to improve access; they also flagged constraints tied to the parcel’s wetlands and floodplain.

While several members expressed interest in the Nature Area as a long‑term site for an amphitheater or festival grounds, they said a formal study was needed to determine what is feasible. The committee reached a consensus that staff should solicit quotes and scope options and prepare a request for proposals for a park master plan and that estimated costs be placed on the 2026 capital projects list for consideration. No ordinance, zoning change or formal land sale was proposed or approved at the meeting.

Next steps, as described by staff, are to prepare an RFP for a park master plan that will include public engagement, existing‑conditions analysis (flood plain and soils), programming options, and design concepts; the committee will review proposals and capital requests before authorizing any construction work.