The Duck Pond, a part of the Civic Triangle in Waterford, has begun construction of a $3 million project to improve the park. 

The pond, located beside Rope Ferry Road, will now feature a handicap-accessible path, a boardwalk, an overlook area to the pond, a pickleball court, and a portable ice rink/stage for community events. These additions will accompany the existing playground, gazebo, and skate park. 

The pond is currently closed off to the public. The once full pond is now dredged and surrounded by a tall fence. Some trees and debris can be seen inside and around the construction site as well.

On the street side view of the construction, there is a descriptive map of what the plans for construction are, and what they plan to include.  

The construction and dredging of the pond has raised some concerns for local citizens. 

Numerous turtles have been found dead along Rope Ferry Road in front of the construction site, as a result of the dredging and destruction of their home. 

A plan was made, “including placing a large crate at the site, the construction workers, when they see a turtle… pick up the turtle and put him in the crate. Animal control will then safely relocate them away,” says the Waterford-East Lyme Animal Control in a Facebook post from September 11. 

Some crates can be viewed from outside of the site with turtles inside them. 

Jonathan Mullen, the planning director for the project says, “The plan is to release the turtles back into the pond once dredging is complete.”

He also adds that the town is working with a certified herpetologist (an amphibian and reptile expert) and ensuring the safety of the turtles.

Kiara Suarez, a mother of two, who frequently visits the playground beside the Duck Pond says that as an animal lover, she feels badly about the death of the turtles. She, however, also mentions how fun it is for her kids to visit. She says that the new accessible walkways would be “good for everyone.” 

The new plans for the Civic Triangle caters to the citizens by offering more activities and space to walk around.

“I am so excited for all the new editions,” says Maple Siu, a student at Waterford High School. 

The Civic Triangle project is split into six “phases.” 

Phase one is shown as the original Duck Pond and phase two is improvements of a smaller division of the Duck Pond, which includes development to the entrance. The other phases include improvements to the library and civic triangle playground. 

These plans include expanding the library parking lot and adding two bridges surrounding the pond. 

They also have proposed a water quality filter, which may improve the quality of the water. 

According to the Environment Planner, Maureen FitzGerald, “sediment has accumulated in the pond to depths of 12-18 inches, reducing water depths.” She added how algal blooms and oxygen depletion decreases the water quality of the pond. 

In regards to the dredging of the pond, “organic sediment is being removed and the depth increased in the center of the pond to increase water depth.” In other words, the dredging of the pond was to increase the water depth and the quality of the pond.

The landscape and architecture company, Kent + Frost, which is in charge of the construction over the Duck Pond, has also done improvements as to the softball field and pond.  

The company is based in Mystic and has worked on other local projects, such as the Hygienic Art Park in New London and various buildings in the Mystic Seaport Museum. 

Although the construction at the Duck Pond is only in the initial stages of its construction, it has a lot of potential. Based not only on the background of the landscaping company, but also the investment of money and interest from the Waterford community. 

The new improvements have already warranted much attention from the community. 

“Hopefully more people will start to visit the pond once it’s done,” says Maple Siu.

The improvements to the pond are still in progress, although a final date has not been set, the project seems to have big goals in sight.