Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
West Haven ARPA panel approves Morris Park mini-golf contract, allocates up to $300,000 in ARPA funds
Summary
The ARPA Committee approved a contract with New England Recreation for an 18-hole mini-golf course at Morris Park and agreed to fund up to $300,000 from ARPA with additional funds from other local sources; committee members asked for clarity on operations and funding sources.
The West Haven ARPA Committee voted to approve a contract with New England Recreation to build an 18‑hole mini‑golf course at Morris Park, authorizing ARPA funds to cover up to $300,000 of the project.
Committee members discussed layout and operations before the vote. The contract presented includes features shown on the packet (page 39–40), including fountains, monuments and a windmill-style feature. Committee counsel and staff reviewed a revised second version of the contract before the committee moved to approve it.
The mini‑golf project will be funded from multiple sources. Committee discussion identified up to $300,000 of ARPA or youth-program funds toward the contract; the packet notes the balance will come from LOSIP and Community Development Agency (CDA) funds. The committee chair said deposits will come from LOSIP and CDA and that the city will not provide a contract deposit from ARPA funds. The committee approved the contract and a subsequent separate motion to allocate the ARPA portion of the funding.
Members asked operational questions before voting, including whether the course would occupy former fields, whether a fence or security would be installed, and who would operate the facility. Committee members indicated the site is adjacent to parking and not replacing an active field; staff confirmed a fence will be present. Who will run the course — city staff, a third‑party operator or a sub‑contractor — was described as not yet finalized.
The motions to approve the contract and to approve the ARPA funding allocation passed by voice vote. The committee recorded no roll‑call votes in the meeting transcript.
Why it matters: The mini‑golf project uses federal ARPA funding alongside local funding sources and will create a new recreation amenity in Morris Park. Committee members asked for clearer operational details and confirmed the city will not use ARPA for the contractor deposit.
Next steps: Staff asked committee members to review the contract language and return any questions to counsel before final execution.
