Town makes plan to manage invasives

By Avice Meehan

Newcomers to Norfolk might be puzzled when someone suggests they stroll through City Meadow, a destination in the heart of town. What meadow?

What they would find at the bottom of the stairs at Robertson Plaza is a wetland, crisscrossed by boardwalk paths, where invasive plants like phragmites, narrow leaf cattail and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) are thriving—along with the occasional aster and umbels of Queen Anne’s lace. The sounds of the song sparrow, American goldfinch and red-winged blackbird also fill the air.

But invasives beware: your day is coming, and that’s good news for visitors looking to experience a restored wetland meadow that lives up to its name.

A variety of groups in Norfolk are working toward development of a focused and comprehensive plan to support restoration of the meadow and a longer-term plan for maintenance.

“Our goal is to make it look cared for and a place that people want to visit,” said Molly Ackerly, a member of the City Meadow Committee that oversaw the project until it disbanded in November 2022. Ackerly and others on the committee remain active in advising the town.

Two important steps have occurred. Michael Nadeau, a nationally recognized expert on sustainable landscaping, has been asked to create a plan for removing invasive plants and the optimal timing for that work. In addition, Matt’s Landscaping of Falls Village has been engaged to help maintain the existing boardwalks, ensure they remain clear and manage any future work.

In the meantime, a group called Friends of City Meadow has formed under the leadership of Libby Borden, Walter Godlewski and Doreen Kelly.

“We are a loose organization that cares about City Meadow and wants it to be what it can be,” said Borden, noting that the Friends postponed a work party while awaiting guidance on next steps.

One thing is clear: additional resources will be needed to restore the environment and improve the habitat. “We will need to raise money for the invasive work,” said First Selectman Matt Riiska, who noted that the town benefits from several trusts that generate funds for mowing and other maintenance work. “Once we get a firm plan and budget, there will be several avenues we can pursue, including through the State of Connecticut.”