CAPITAL PROJECTS 2021 and Beyond
Since 2004, Mill River Park Collaborative has spearheaded the creation of a vibrant worldclass park in the heart of Stamford. What was once an eyesore has become a central hub of natural beauty, recreation, and community. Over the years, much has been accomplished: The Mill River was restored to run freely; acres of walkways and trails have been created; the natural habitat has been restored; and the iconic Brownstein/Selkowitz Carousel Pavilion and the amazing Steven & Alexandra Cohen Skating Center and Fountain have brightened the community. Our work is not done yet! Construction of the Whittingham Discovery Center for environmental studies is underway, and phase two of the park along the west side from Tresser Blvd. to Richmond Hill Ave is near completion; plus a total renovation of our playground is in the works, as is the greenway north to Scalzi Park.
All images and renderings in this booklet are inspirational and may not be actual representation of Mill River Park in its current or future state.
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Despite the many trials we have faced during the COVID-19 crisis, our incredible team has worked hard to adapt and maintain our keystone programs, and has innovated and expanded our services to meet the urgent needs of the Stamford community. By quickly implementing critical safety measures, we have been able to keep our most essential programs and services on schedule and moving forward. We are grateful for your support in this critical time in our Park’s history.
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The creation of the 2006 | Mill River Park Playground
2006
The restoration 2009 | of Mill River The creation of 12 acres
2013 | of beautiful landscape in the heart of Stamford
The Brownstein/Selkowitz 2017 | Carousel Pavilion The Steven & Alexandra Cohen 2018 | Skating Center and Fountain
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The Discovery Center will be the largest building in the Park. It will house an amphitheater, an environmental exhibition space complete with fish and other living park wonders, two Environmental Classrooms, a café, a rooftop garden observation deck, and outdoor patios and sitting areas.
THE WHITTINGHAM DISCOVERY CENTER The Whittingham Discovery Center: Opening Fall 2022 The Whittingham Discovery Center is opening late fall, 2022. We are proud to share that construction of the Whittingham Discovery Center, a state-of-the-art building on the east side of Mill River Park that is committed to environmental education and appreciation, is currently underway. At 12,000 square feet, the Discovery Center will be a hub of recreational and environmental educational activities in Stamford. Its construction will add to the activation of the Park with year-round programs and services.
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The Discovery Center will feature an Environmental Learning Lab that will serve as a designated space for adults and children alike to engage in hands-on environmental studies. The Environmental Learning Lab will contain equipment and resources for water and soil testing; a river ecology and terrestrial listening station; local bird identification by sight and sound; plant identification and analysis; and more! Thanks to many generous supporters, some of the Discovery Center features have already been secured, but there are a host of major features that are available for naming rights, including classrooms, architectural aspects, outdoor patios, and more.
Whittingham Discovery Center: Naming opportunities are available throughout the building as well as outdoor gardens, a rooftop garden, and patios.
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Naming opportunities within the Whittingham Discovery Center include the atrium entrance, interactive touch tanks, bird sculptures, the café, and state-of-the-art environmental classrooms.
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PHASE 2 (WEST SIDE) Stretching from Tresser Blvd. to Richmond Hill Ave, the Middle Corridor is an important step in our efforts to extend Mill River Park south to the Long Island Sound. This project began in the fall of 2020 and is near completion on the west side of the river. In the very near future, there will be walking paths, thousands of new native perennials, shrubs and trees, benches, and horseshoe pits. Phase 2 plan: Naming opportunities include horseshoe pits, benches, and trees.
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ADDITIONAL PARK PROJECTS Reimagining the Mill River Park Playground One of the most beloved features of the Park, the Mill River Park Playground, was built in 2006 by 1,500 volunteers in under a week. Because of the very heavy use of the playground, it will be completely renovated with new, modern,
barrier-free play equipment, a splash pad, comfort stations, benches, and picnic tables. Be part of the magic: Naming opportunities for the playground include barrier-free play equipment, a specialized tot play area, and our very own Park climbing tree.
WATCH SLIDESHOW
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Mill River Square Planning is beginning for the creation of Mill River Square, a public gathering spot along Washington Blvd. that is sure to become Stamford’s town square. The site, often referred to as Archstone, was temporarily set up a few years ago as the Mill River Park Back Porch, complete with bocce court, garden seating and a picnic area. Long-term plans for this site include a permanent location for performances and other large events.
Dog Park In 2018, with the help of a generous corporate donor, we created the temporary Mill River Dog Park along Washington Blvd. It only took hours for this to become one of the Park’s most popular features. Now we are exploring locations for a permanent, larger, and more expansive dog park with added room and specialized features for both large and small dogs.
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MILL RIVER PARK… AND YOU The Mill River Park Collaborative continues working to fulfill its master plan, which ultimately will result in a continuous greenway from Scalzi Park to Stamford Harbor, creating a four-mile loop for walkers, joggers, and bikers and creating pathways along the riverfront to enjoy nature’s habitat. We need your help to complete the transformation. The Park will be a legacy gift from our generation to generations to come. We are delighted to offer a host of naming opportunities throughout the Park, so please consider adding your name for future generations to see. Please contact Alicia Wettenstein at alicia@millriverpark.org or Arthur Selkowitz at arthur@millriverpark.org to learn more about how you can make a piece of the Park yours!
Whittingham Discovery Center Naming Opportunities Exhibit Space
$1,000,000
SOLD
Environmental Classroom (Middle School)
$500,000
SOLD
Multi-purpose Classroom
$500,000
Environmental Classroom (Early Childhood)
$300,000
Amphitheater
$300,000
Whittingham Outdoor Café Plaza
$250,000
Kitchen and Café
$250,000
Rooftop Solar Installation
$250,000
Discovery Center Rooftop Garden
$250,000
Café Patio
$150,000
Atrium Entrance
$100,000
Covered Patio
$100,000
SOLD
Large Fountain Seat Wall
$75,000
SOLD
Educational Tactile Exhibits (6 units)
$80,000
Educational Tactile Exhibit #1 (touch tank)
$25,000
Educational Tactile Exhibit #2 (stream table)
$10,000
Educational Tactile Exhibit #3 (exhibit table)
$10,000
ETEs #4–6 (display tanks)
$15,000 each
Bird Sculptures (3 units)
$50,000
Mezzanine Knowledge Center/Reading Cove
$50,000
Outdoor School Yard
$30,000
Small Courtyard
$30,000
Short Fountain Seat Wall
$50,000
Whittingham Entrance Garden
$25,000
Windows – Large Floor to Ceiling
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$5,000 each
SOLD
SOLD
Phase 2 (West Side) Naming Opportunities
Playground Project Naming Opportunities
West River Path
$100,000
West Side Glade
$50,000
Tot Play Area
$200,000
Traditional Picnic Tables (units TBD)
$10,000 each
Playground Landscape
$100,000
Playground Path
$100,000
Horseshoe Pits (2 units) Water Fountain (units TBD) Bike Rack
$9,000 for both/ $5,000 each $5,000 each TBD
Trees (30 units)
$5,000 each
Benches (units TBD)
$5,000 each
Specialized Trees (Specimen) Tulip Tree
TBD
Red Oak
TBD
American Elm Allee
TBD
New Playground Naming Rights
$1,000,000
Climbing Tree Structure
$80,000
Zip Line
$50,000
Playground Butterfly Hill
$30,000
Playground Planter Boxes
$25,000
Traditional Picnic Tables (3 units)
$10,000 each
Large, Round Picnic Table
$12,000
Medium, Round Picnic Table
$10,000
Swing Set (2 swings) — 4 units
$10,000 each
Small, Round Picnic Table
$7,500
Additional Naming Opportunities Carousel Great Lawn
$500,000
Carousel Picninc and Lawn Seating
$80,000
Bird Overlook (South of Grand Steps in Main Park, East Side)
$75,000
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Board of Directors Arthur Selkowitz Chairman
David Kooris
Arnold M. Karp Vice Chair
Thomas Madden
Noah Lapine
Fatimah Mawji, MD Vice Chair
Mark McGrath Frank Mercede
Robert Granata Treasurer
Shelly Nichani
Don Brownstein Secretary
Michael Pollard
Steve Osman Matt Quinones
Ralph Blessing
Ryan Salvatore
George Boyce
J.J. Sendelbach
Sandy Goldstein
Jim Shapiro
Emily M. Gordon
Camille S. Spaulding
Robin Graham
Jon Winkel
Conor Horrigan
Jennifer Young
Nicole S. King
Nate Zubal
MILL RIVER PARK COLLABORATIVE 1010 WASHINGTON BLVD, SUITE 101 STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06901 203.989.0321
MILLRIVERPARK.ORG