Recreation — sports, golf, racquets, the beaches, boating — is big in Westport.
As he settles in to his new position as Parks & Recreation Department director, Erik Barbieri is meeting with many stakeholders: staff, Park & Rec Commissioners, Public Works, Police and Fire Department, school officials, youth leaders, and more.
“I’m a team player,” he says.
He’s not kidding.
The Glastonbury native had a stellar soccer career at the University of Connecticut. He won numerous awards , culminating in 1994 Big East Player of the Year. Barbieri then played professionally with the minor league Connecticut Wolves.
Erik Barbieri, with UConn and sports memorabilia in his Westport office.
At the same time, the parks and recreation management major was embarking on his parks and recreation career.
Helped by a series of mentors — and secure in the knowledge that he was most comfortable in a hands-on, outdoors profession, not sitting in a cubicle — he rose through the ranks in New Britain.
Over 3 decades — culminating in 9 years as director — Barbieri managed 7 divisions. He oversaw parks, recreation, a golf course, a large stadium, cemeteries, senior and veteran services, and disability and youth programs. He completed 2 multimillion-d0llar capital improvement projects,
The only thing New Britain was missing was water.
With the mindset of an athlete — and a team player — the challenge of learning about beaches and marinas excites Barbieri.
Since starting his new position last month, the new director has explored our facilities, and tapped the insights of people like Rick Giunta, longtime marina director.
Ned Dimes Marina at Compo Beach is one of 2 under Parks & Recreation’s purview. (Drone photo/Daniel Johnson)
Barbieri had not been looking for a new gig. But the Westport position — vacant since Jen Fava resigned last spring — intrigued him.
The more he researched, the more he realized this town has outstanding facilities. It’s serious about recreation.
And there was plenty of work to be done.
The 10-year capital plan includes the renovation of Longshore. Replacing the maintenance facility is a high priority. There is a scarcity of athletic fields, several of which are overused and not up to high standards. Contracts — including the Compo Beach concession stand, and Longshore golf course maintenance and cart fleet company — expire soon.
New Britain’s self-described “jack of all trades” is excited to dig into every aspect of his new job.
“We’ve hit the ground not running, but sprinting,” he says. He’s learning about — and where necessary, taking fresh looks at — facilities, programs, and everything in between.
Take the maintenance facility and golf pro shop. Both have Americans with Disabilities Act compliance issues. Machines and golf carts are stored outside, in the salt air.
Erik Barbieri’s “fresh eyes” will take a new look at Longshore, and all town recreational facilities.
“Westport has great people,” he says. His Parks & Rec staff, and those in Public Works — with whom his department works closely — “really make things happen.”
Returning to his “team player” analogy, Barbieri says “we have to prioritize needs. We’ll do it together: our staff, the first selectwoman, Public Works, Board of Finance — everyone.”
Also on his agenda: hiring a new parks superintendent. Michael West left that crucial role in January, to become assistant director in Ridgefield. Barbieri begins interviewing candidates for that position soon.
On his first day, Barbieri says, he told his staff: “I have an open door. Feedback is important.” He, Giunta and operations manager Carmen Roda, “are here to listen to you.” And, he emphasized, “community feedback is important.”
Barbieri calls himself “high energy. I like to get things done. There are good projects ahead, to make Westport an even better place than it already is.”
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Welcome, Erik!
Although this piece made no mention of our open spaces, you should be aware that two of the largest parks, Winslow and Baron’s South, are in pretty tough shape. Winslow, among other things, is being incrementally consumed by the world’s most invasive plant, Japanese Knotweed. There’s just no excuse for that in a public park. Overuse and erosion are big problems as well. Baron’s South is, at this point, essentially abandoned. It hasn’t received appropriate maintenance in years, its paths are mostly gone and invasives like Mile-a-Minute are rapidly suffocating what native vegetation is left.
In capable hands, with the right plan and a supportive budget, these two parks could eventually be on par with something you might see in a place that has long been serious about its open spaces – like Greenwich.
I wish you the best – if nothing else your job doesn’t look as if it will ever be boring!
I wish Eric the best and it seems like he possesses the energy necessary to improve our parks and rec. Certainly, Jen fava had no such abilities. Listening to suggestions from the residence can only hope to improve the areas we are blessed to have.
Good luck Erik I look forward to working with you and at any way as Morley said we have Baron south and Winslow and the hook contract is up in July as a rtm rep for district 9 and a former parks and recreation employee and on parks and recreation of the rtm you need me or to talk I say visit all the parks as soon as you can I do ask for mor money for maintenance thanks for your service to Westport