Newly Completed Promenade Transforms Village’s Lake Wellington Waterfront
Town Center
BY DEBORAH WELKY
Have you taken a stroll along the new Wellington Town Center Promenade? If not, head on over to the Wellington Community Center and look behind the building for the newly renovated and expanded Lake Wellington waterfront. Once bordered by weeds and rushes, Lake Wellington now features a lit, paved walkway that runs the length of the shore from behind the great lawn near the Wellington Community Center to the Lake Wellington Professional Centre. One thing that hasn’t changed is the view — it’s still stunning, especially at sunset. The concept of a “town center,” a place of gathering for all of Wellington’s residents, has been a key consideration in long-term strategic planning for most of the past decade. In August 2017, the 24
september 2020 | wellington the magazine
Wellington Village Council first began discussing “activating the waterfront,” specifically referring to the lakefront area behind the community center.The council approved the final promenade design in May 2019. Work on this highly anticipated project started in October 2019 with the construction of an 800-foot retaining wall. Once the retaining wall was complete, it was time for the 20-foot paver promenade, as well as concrete posts and railings along the water’s edge. Special lighting for the columns, along with light poles, benches, trash bins and water fountains followed. The dog-friendly promenade runs the length of the 800-foot retaining wall ranging from 20 to 30 feet in width. The lake’s existing gazebo and dock were incorporated into the plan, and
the entire project was completed in July 2020, although additional docks for boaters may be added later, pending a U.S. Department of the Interior Land & Water Conservation Fund grant. Once the grant is finalized as hoped, fabrication and installation of the additional docks could be completed by late October. “What we’ve created here is a place for families, children and seniors to come together and enjoy all the great things that our village has to offer.When we think of Wellington, we think parks and green spaces,” Mayor Anne Gerwig said. “With the completion of this new promenade, we’ve added a new feature to our community’s list of highlights — an inviting way to take advantage of this beautiful waterfront.” The area has already become a get-