Emergency Call Stations Installed Around Ellington

ELLINGTON, CT — A dozen new blue light emergency call stations are active around Ellington, a project that grew out of town discussions about emergency access, public safety communications and spotty cell service in some recreation areas.

Town officials said the stations are designed to be simple to use, with one button marked “HELP.” When the button is pressed, the station dials 911 and connects the person using it with a dispatcher.

The 12 stations are located at Ellington High School’s front corner and tennis courts, Arbor Commons, Pinney Street Fields, Tedford Park East and West, Windermere School, Market Park/Center School, EMS, Crystal Lake School, the Old Crystal Lake School House and Hall Memorial Library, according to the town.

Meeting minutes show the concept was discussed as part of the town’s comprehensive lighting project. At a Jan. 14, 2025 Permanent Building Committee meeting, officials said about $139,000 in bonded money remained from the lighting project and identified the installation of blue light emergency call stations as a possible athletic-facility-lighting-related use.

The topic came up again at an April 7, 2025 Board of Selectmen meeting during a discussion about the town phone system. Officials discussed replacing or supplementing outside emergency phones at ambulance and fire stations, which were on a copper wire system, with a blue light system similar to those used on college campuses.

Tom Modzelewski, the town’s public works director, also noted limited AED availability at Tedford Park. The minutes said the blue light stations have AED capabilities, can automatically signal the proper dispatch center in an emergency and use communication lines that get priority when phone traffic is heavy.

A few days later, the Safety & Health Committee discussed spotty cell service in town, including at Robert Tedford Memorial Park, and noted that additional blue light stations were under discussion for Tedford Park, Pinney fields and other locations.

By April 2026, the Permanent Building Committee was told delivery of the Blue Light Stations was scheduled for the week of May 1, with installation planned for the week of May 11. The town electrician and DPW were coordinating electrical work and excavation, according to the minutes.

Town officials said the stations are now installed and active.