Traffic, safety improvements complete at Onatru Farm Park

The town of Lewisboro recently completed major improvements at Onatru Farm utilizing a $100,000 state grant facilitated by state Sen. Pete Harckham.

The upgrades improve safety, accessibility and traffic flow.

“Residents deserve safe and accessible parks and recreational spaces where they can relax, exercise and come together as a community,” Harckham said. “Onatru Farm Park is a treasured destination for Lewisboro families and visitors, and this state funding made it possible to complete important infrastructure improvements while easing costs for taxpayers.”

“Widening the entrance and paving the parking lot at Onatru was much needed and thanks to the CREST grant we were able to get it done at no expense to the taxpayer,” Lewisboro Town Supervisor Tony Gonçalves said of the Community Resiliency, Economic Sustainability and Technology program.

Onatru Farm Park hosts numerous athletic competitions, arts events and community celebrations throughout the year. It also is home to the town’s Parks and Recreation, town historian and Facilities Maintenance offices.

The project was launched because of concerns about traffic congestion and safety at the park’s narrow stone pillar entrance, which often created difficulties for vehicles entering and exiting the property during large events. In 2023, one of the pillars was damaged by a visitor’s vehicle during a vintage car show. After the incident, Gonçalves met with Harckham to discuss the need for renovations, and the senator secured the grant.

The completed work included modifying the entrance and interior parking circle to improve vehicular ingress and egress while reducing the likelihood of future accidents. In addition, the park’s former gravel parking lot was repaved with asphalt, creating a more durable, weather-resistant surface for visitors year-round.