Committee recommends 'Blue Star Memorial Garden' for downtown pocket park in Rocky Hill

The Memorial Naming Committee on Wednesday recommended naming the small park at the southeast corner of Glastonbury Avenue (Route 160) and Main Street (Route 99) the "Blue Star Memorial Garden" and referred the nomination to the mayor and town council for formal consideration under chapter 36, article 1 of the town code.

Resident Allen Baglia, who spoke during the public-comment period, proposed the name and said it would strengthen downtown "sense of place." Baglia also noted recent winter sidewalk icing near the site and urged the committee to limit large political yard signs in the area, saying the Blue Star Memorial placard already identifies the location: "Blue Star Memorial Garden," he said when asked to clarify the suggested name.

A staff member told the committee there are no current plans to alter the planting area and that perennial plantings are already established there. That clarification was offered during a short exchange after Baglia's remarks.

A committee member provided background on the Blue Star Memorial program, explaining it recognizes men and women who have served in the armed forces and was started by the National Garden Club in 1945. The committee member then moved that the committee recommend the "Blue Star Memorial Garden" name and refer the nomination to the mayor for council consideration. The motion was seconded and approved by voice vote; the committee recorded the referral but did not record individual roll-call tallies in the transcript.

Next steps: the mayor and town council will consider the nomination under the town code; the committee's action is a recommendation and not a final naming until the council votes.