New Canaan parks board approves disc golf meet, Juneteenth event

Parks and Recreation · Meeting of March 11, 2026

New Canaan Parks and Recreation Commission clears disc golf tournament and first Juneteenth festival at Waveny Park. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the fourth annual "Wave Warmup" disc golf tournament for April 26 and a Juneteenth festival organized by Susan Borst, vice president of Standing Together Against Racism, expected to draw 400 to 500 people to the park's west lawn. The department's director said the real operating budget increase is 2.56 percent, not the 5.16 percent shown in the town's budget book, after $100,000 was moved out of a self-sustaining recreation account.

Officials also floated raising the park pass from $35 to $40, with pickleball courts still stuck in design over stormwater requirements, and said the Waveny House elevator project should finish by the end of April.

In the full story:

• The complete report — 1,045 words

Source: the Parks and Recreation meeting of March 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

The Full Article

NEW CANAAN — March 11, 2026 — The New Canaan Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a fourth annual disc golf tournament at Waveny Park and a new Juneteenth festival on the park's west lawn, while commission members reviewed a proposed 2.56 percent increase to the department's operating budget.

Commissioners also heard updates on the new playground under construction near Waveny's South Avenue entrance, continued design work on pickleball courts, and a plan to step up water testing at Kiwanis Pond after a report that the YMCA of New Canaan would move children's swim lessons to its pools. The commission's next meeting is set for Wednesday, April 15, at 7 p.m., a week later than usual because of the school vacation break.

The Full Story

The commission opened with roll call, noting a quorum of seven members, including Hank George Bennington, Lindsay Herren, Britney Singer and a member whose name was recorded only as Juliani. Members approved the minutes of the February 11 meeting without discussion before turning to two event proposals.

The first was the fourth annual "Wave Warmup" disc golf tournament, scheduled for April 26, rain or shine, at the Waveny Park course. An organizer told the commission the tournament has sold out at 72 players every year since it was revived for 2022, drawing competitors from Connecticut, New York and beyond. He described it as a beginner-friendly event ranked "C tier" by the Professional Disc Golf Association, with a shotgun start of four players per hole. Tournament parking will again be routed to the pool lot to avoid conflicts with pickleball players. The commission approved the tournament on a motion from the department's July 4 event coordinator, seconded by Bennington.

Commissioners then approved a special event permit for a Juneteenth festival on Waveny's west lawn, a new location after four years at the Carriage Barn and the New Canaan Historical Society. Susan Borst, vice president of Standing Together Against Racism, a New Canaan nonprofit founded in 2020, said the Board of Selectmen approved up to six food trucks for the event on February 25 following a February 5 site visit, and organizers expect 400 to 500 attendees between 3 and 7 p.m. The event will use only the lawn and west parking lot, not the interior of Waveny House, which has a wedding booked the following day. The special event permit was nearly complete pending final insurance paperwork. The motion to approve, made by Herren, was seconded by a commissioner identified as Tim and passed unanimously.

A volunteer who works with the disc golf course, addressed during the meeting as Tim, reported that crews installed turf tee pads at every hole this year, split between easier white and harder blue starting positions, removed invasive thorny brush and built new benches and footbridges. He credited Ryan, the department's maintenance staff, with delivering materials for the work. Course-tracking data showed roughly 2,600 rounds recorded over the past year by about 600 unique players from 30 states and three countries.

The department's July 4 event coordinator, referred to in the meeting only as Dave, said he and colleague John Howe will ask the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday to approve a fireworks contract and a proposed increase to the park admission pass, from $35 to $40 in advance and $50 the day of the event. He said planners are coordinating timing with the town's 250th anniversary parade, set for June 27 and 28, so the two events do not compete for town resources.

The department's director, identified in the meeting as Jim, told the commission the proposed operating budget reflects a true 2.56 percent increase, even though the town's budget book shows 5.16 percent because $100,000 previously credited to the department's self-sustaining recreation account was moved elsewhere. He projected $1.22 million in recreation program income against just over $1 million in expenses, and about $200,000 in wedding revenue against $130,000 in expenses. Capital requests include paddle tennis court heaters for two courts, a clay infield for youth softball, technology upgrades at the Lapham Community Center and an audio system for Waveny House. Pickleball courts remain in the design phase with Keith Simpson and Associates because the site must avoid any stormwater runoff. He also said the department will increase water testing at Kiwanis Pond, will not add chlorine, and that Margaret Riley of the YMCA will present an update at the April meeting. The Waveny House elevator project is expected to finish by the end of April.

"This ranks as a C tier. It's a good entry level for anybody new who wants to get in and learn more about the competitive lifestyle of the game." — Wave Warmup tournament organizer

"This is exclusively on the lawn. This happens rain or shine and we will not be using the interior at all." — Susan Borst, vice president, Standing Together Against Racism

"We're asking for a 2.56 percent increase because that's a true increase that we're asking for." — Jim, Parks and Recreation Department director

Why It Matters

Two public events at Waveny Park now have commission sign-off: an April 26 disc golf tournament that has sold out for three straight years, and a first-time Juneteenth festival expecting up to 500 people on the park's west lawn. Both test how much added activity the park's shared spaces, parking and course can handle as usage climbs.

The budget discussion matters more directly to residents' wallets. The department says its real budget request is a 2.56 percent increase, not the 5.16 percent shown in the town's budget book, a discrepancy tied to a reallocated $100,000 account. The proposal to raise the park pass from $35 to $40, and pickleball courts still stuck in design over stormwater rules, both go before the Town Council and Board of Selectmen in the coming weeks.

Key Motions & Votes

- Vote: Approve February 11 meeting minutes Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approve fourth annual Wave Warmup disc golf tournament, April 26 Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Approve special event permit for Juneteenth festival at Waveny Park Tally: Approved unanimously

- Vote: Adjourn meeting Tally: Approved unanimously

Source

Town Of New Canaan: Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, March 11, 2026