Town Council Opens New Park, Honors Achievements, and Ponders Barnes Renovations
It was a busy night for the Southington Town Council, which started its meeting with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new pocket park in Plantsville.
Complete with a mural of historic downtown Plantsville, the small green area features benches, flowers and picnic tables.
The council was joined by State Representatives Gale Mastrofrancesco, Chris Poulos, and Donna Veach, and State Senator Rob Sampson for the ribbon-cutting.
The meeting then continued at the Weichsel Center. There the council and members of the local delegation proclaimed September 14, 2026, 'Edward S. Pocock Jr Day.'
Several council members shared fond memories of Pocock, who served in various community roles. The proclamation of Edward S. Pocock Jr Day was presented to Erica Pocock, Pocock’s granddaughter.
“Regardless of what role Ed played in the community, it was always clear that he put the best interests of this entire town first. I think that's a great quality to come by. Regardless of what the issue was, he was very thoughtful and deliberate. He made sure to do what was right for all of our residents. It's truly an honor to be able to second the motion to name the room after him,” said council member Palmieri.
The community room at the Calendar House was also renamed in Pocock’s honor.
Another proclamation honored Southington’s 11U All-Star Baseball Team, who won the district, section and state championships this year. Council members praised the team’s motto, ‘We Believe,’ and their persevering attitude.
“That belief became more than a slogan; it became their identity,” said council Vice-Chair Jennifer Clock. “‘We Believe’ wasn't just something they said; it was something they lived every day. And because of that unwavering belief, determination, and resilience, this team accomplished something extraordinary. They turned heartbreak into history. They transformed last year's disappointment into this year's triumph; they earned the title of state champions and brought home a championship that this community will celebrate for years to come.”
Christina Volpe, curator of the Barnes Museum, was also on hand at Monday’s meeting to update the council on recent developments at the museum.
“We brought over 100 people to downtown Southington this past summer alone, either by signing up for one of our walking tours or by signing up to do a private one,” said Volpe.
To realize the museum’s full potential, Volpe said, more funds will be needed to cover the cost of repairs. Renovations to the building’s aging exterior would allow it to survive for years longer and improve the look of the property. While some grants and donations have already been obtained, Volpe said the town council should help to fund the renovations.
Chris Iverson, president of the Friends of the Barnes Museum, urged council members to support the museum, explaining that renovations would allow it to continue to serve the public in the years to come.
“The museum, in my view, can be and should be the center of the history we have in our downtown,” said Iverson.
Volpe pointed out that the museum would be able to host more weddings and private events if restorations were made to the structure. “We had one private event last year, and that is because the Barnes Museum is in need of some repairs,” she said.
She also noted that even in its current state, the property has provided educational experiences to many Southington students. “We’ve reached 150 students across three schools, and we saw over 2,000 hours from volunteers and interns.”
