The majestic tall ship Eagle never fails to turn heads in its home city. Whether it’s cruising up or down the Thames River or berthed at City Pier, Fort Trumbull State Park or the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the sail training vessel draws many local residents and visitors to the waterfront.
Those who love Eagle (and really, who doesn’t?) should find it particularly satisfying that federal dollars will soon help improve City Pier, allowing the facility to become a permanent home berth for the ship. Tucked into the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passed by Congress earlier this month is $6 million to improve City Pier for the express purpose of making it a safe and suitable home for Eagle.
Mayor Michael Passero said the money will be used to dredge the south side of the pier, make structural improvements to the pier, upgrade pier utilities including electric, internet and sewer services and add a pier security system. The work will begin as soon as possible, he said, and is expected to be complete in 2023.
This money, especially if it eventually is combined with the requested $50 million intended to jumpstart construction of the national U.S. Coast Guard Museum of which Eagle is intended to be a major exhibit, will provide a tremendous boost to the city and its all-important waterfront. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, chairman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, in October announced his appropriation to the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations bill for the next fiscal year.
To say this all is good news is an understatement. Work to establish a national Coast Guard Museum in the city has dragged on for 20 years and the project has been beset by disappointing fundraising efforts and continued controversy over the proposed location on the waterfront behind the city’s train station. At last, however, it appears there is tangible evidence the museum will be a future reality.
For historic, cultural, economic and aesthetic reasons, it makes sense for New London officials to work to enhance the city’s waterfront into a major attraction. The Coast Guard Museum is just one piece of what could be a much larger effort.
The waterfront already has proven time and again to be a major lure for the city. Just a few examples: the popular Thames River Heritage Park water taxi tours and the annual Connecticut Maritime Heritage Festival and Sailfest that pre-pandemic attracted tens of thousands to the waterfront. Those crowds no doubt will return to enjoy food, music and ships at future festivals once the pandemic dissipates.
And remember those who thought the pop-up City Dock restaurant at Custom House Pier would prove a boondoggle? The crowds at that seasonal establishment this summer soon silenced most naysayers.
Now, as some major waterfront improvements and attractions seem much closer to reality, efforts also should get underway to find more vessels dedicated to calling New London home. The unfortunate permanent departure of Mystic Whaler left the city without a tall ship on which visitors can enjoy a cruise. City officials not only should work to fill this void, they should strive to further expand the number and types of vessels at the city’s piers.
The lure of the water is strong. That lure is even stronger when there are plenty of boats to enjoy there. Eagle is already a known crowd pleaser. Imagine if it were the centerpiece of a flotilla.
The Day editorial board meets regularly with political, business and community leaders and convenes weekly to formulate editorial viewpoints. It is composed of President and Publisher Tim Dwyer, Managing Editor Izaskun E. Larrañeta, staff writer Erica Moser and retired deputy managing editor Lisa McGinley. However, only the publisher and editorial page editor are responsible for developing the editorial opinions. The board operates independently from the Day newsroom.
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