The Trust for Public Land in Action: 2018 C E L E B R AT I N G W HAT YO U M A D E P O S S I B L E IN CONNECTICUT AND BEYOND
Introduction Thanks to supporters like you, more than 8 million people around the country live within a 10-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land project—and countless more visit these special places each year. Together, we’ve protected iconic landscapes in Yosemite National Park, built 200 green schoolyards in New York City, and so much more.
amendment to the state constitution that will protect Connecticut’s public lands from being altered and sold without public consent. To increase our impact even more, we are putting special focus on collaborating with nonprofit partners and inspiring municipalities across the state to embrace our 10-Minute Walk™ vision. As we embark on the next chapter of our land for people mission with Diane and Walker leading the way, our commitment to improving quality of life for everyone in Connecticut through parks and open space will remain unchanged. Our leveraged focus will allow us to leave a more profound impact on the state’s public land system and help us ensure that all Connecticut residents have access to great outdoor experiences.
Here in Connecticut, we have created cuttingedge parks, playgrounds, and Fitness Zones in our state’s most underserved areas and conserved 7,500 acres of public land—and counting. We’re proud of these accomplishments, and today we’re dreaming even bigger.
We are working toward this vision in Connecticut by continuing mission-critical work on the ground in places like Bridgeport—where we recently celebrated the opening of Johnson Oak Park—and by boldly advocating for an
REBEKAH BUTLER
Under the direction of our new President and CEO Diane Regas and Connecticut State Director Walker Holmes, we’re laser-focused on inspiring a Land for People movement that ensures everyone lives within a 10-minute walk of a park and has access to great outdoor experiences no matter where they live. It is Diane and Walker’s shared vision that we create new parks and protect critical landscapes just as we always have, and that we leverage our national expertise across multiple disciplines—including research, innovation, policy, and advocacy—to truly deliver on our mission at scale.
As a token of thanks for your support, we’re pleased to share an update on everything we’ve accomplished together in 2018 and offer a sneak peek into what’s in store for 2019. You are the key to translating our bold vision into on-the-ground results, so we hope you’ll join us for the exciting year ahead.
Darrow Pond East Lyme, CT
CO M P L E T E D P R OJ E CT I N B R I D G E P O RT
Johnson Oak Park In fall 2018, we celebrated the complete restoration of Johnson Oak Park and the adjacent grounds of Jettie S. Tisdale School in Bridgeport’s East End neighborhood. The new park—which serves 3,500 people living within a 10-minute walk and almost 700 students—greatly improves quality of life in a neighborhood in dire need of investment and increased access to the outdoors. When Jettie S. Tisdale School students were designing the park, one 5th grader remarked, “If I walked outside and this was my park, I would cry.” Now is the time for tears of joy, and the neighborhood is coming together to celebrate and enjoy the East End’s new community oasis. Longtime neighborhood advocate Tom McMillian shared his confidence in this dream fulfilled: “It’s going to make a great difference for the neighborhood. It’ll be a go-to place—a safe place.” The new Johnson Oak Park was created by The Trust for Public Land and the City of Bridgeport, with East End neighbors and Tisdale School students leading NICK BENSON
Johnson Oak Park Bridgeport, CT
Will your mayor be next? To ensure that everyone in Connecticut has close-to-home park access, we are working to enlist 50 mayors across the state to sign onto our 10-Minute Walk™ campaign. So far, seven mayors from Bridgeport, Stamford, New Haven, Hartford, East Hartford, West Hartford, and Bristol have taken the pledge.
the way to design the park of their dreams. Once nearly vacant and largely ignored, this four-acre space is now a vibrant, multi-use community park that features a pavilion, tables, grills, community garden, stormwater-absorbing bioswale, and meadows for bird habitat. Students and neighbors now enjoy an outdoor nature classroom, splash pad, updated play equipment, track, and basketball court. The East End Neighborhood Revitalization Zone, Jettie S. Tisdale School, Green Village Initiative, Groundwork Bridgeport, and the City will be key partners in caring for these new amenities in years to come. The $1.6 million project was made possible by major funding from the City of Bridgeport; Aetna Foundation; Avangrid Foundation; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant; Connecticut DEEP: Open Space and Community Gardens; Fairfield County’s Community Foundation; Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund: Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program; Helen and William Mazer Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; October Hill Foundation; Prudential Foundation; Anne S. Richardson Fund; Trust for Public Land Community Impact Fund; and supporters like you.
CO M P L E T E D P R OJ E CT I N W I N D S O R
Mill Brook Open Space This year, The Trust for Public Land, Town of Windsor, Windsor Land Trust, local community members, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection worked together to acquire and protect a 95-acre former golf course property next to Windsor center, which will soon become a new public park.
By securing the property for public access, we eliminated the possibility that it would be developed. Prior to its protection, the land was slated for the construction of 240 homes and had been fully permitted—an outcome that would have permanently altered the landscape and severely degraded its ecological value.
The park will increase recreational opportunities, protect water quality, and become a key segment of a planned greenway that will one day link the Town’s center with the Farmington River, Connecticut River, and downtown Hartford.
“Opening the Mill Brook property to the public will yield a significant new community amenity, and enhance the town’s position as a desirable place to live, work, and locate a business,” said Windsor’s Mayor Donald Trinks. “It will be great to provide residents and visitors with new passive recreational opportunities close to town center. We truly appreciate the assistance provided by The Trust for Public Land, the Windsor Land Trust, and the State of Connecticut.”
Set along a half-mile of the Mill Brook, the property features rolling meadows and pockets of lush forest. It will provide Windsor’s most densely populated neighborhoods with close-to-home opportunities to get outdoors for walking, hiking, exploring nature, and learning about the environment. RICHARD FREEDA
Mill Brook Open Space Windsor, CT
IN THE WORKS IN BRIDGEPORT
Bridgeport Waterfront Pathway Bridgeport is home to 45 public parks and open spaces, yet 30 percent of its 145,000 residents do not have a park within a 10-minute walk of home. Many more residents only have access to parks that are severely deteriorated, raising safety and health concerns for would-be park users. At the same time, 70 percent of the city’s waterfront land is inaccessible to the public, limiting residents’ ability to connect with the city’s iconic coastline. At The Trust for Public Land, we’re working with the City of Bridgeport and local stakeholders to change this reality by planning, designing, and constructing a major 20-mile waterfront pathway along Bridgeport’s entire shoreline—including several rivers and Long Island Sound. While the neighborhoods adjacent to the pathway are currently served by some existing green spaces, many of these are “parks” in name only, and provide little in the way of recreational amenities, green infrastructure, or community gathering spaces. The proposed greenway will improve park access for all and reconnect residents to their rightful waterfront; it will run through nine of Bridgeport’s thirteen neighborhoods and directly serve almost
40,000 people living within a 10-minute walk. Creative placemaking techniques that incorporate local art and cultural expression will help ensure that it is reflective of Bridgeport’s diverse population. And climate-smart and ecologically responsible features will help restore aquatic ecosystems, improve water quality, and protect neighborhoods from flooding and storm surges. Like any project of this scale, creating the Bridgeport Waterfront Pathway will require the coordination of city officials, nonprofit partners, and community members. A combination of public funding and private philanthropy will be critical to bringing this $50 million vision to life. To begin realizing this ambitious plan, The Trust for Public Land will work with the community in the year ahead on advancing the pilot sites selected during the City’s waterfront master planning process. These include the “Sliver by the River,” Johnson’s Creek, and Yellow Mill. Restoring these neglected parcels and transforming them into vibrant parks along the trail will help to revitalize long-underused areas and jumpstart the development of the entire 20-mile pathway.
EILEEN CURNIN
St. Mary’s by the Sea Bridgeport, CT
Our work in Connecticut
IN THE WORKS IN WINDSOR
Brown’s Harvest The Brown family has been farming along the Farmington River in Windsor for more than 150 years. Even as the town around them changed, generation after generation continued the family business—their farm standing the test of time and proudly serving as reminder of Connecticut’s agricultural past. Today, sisters Kathi and Susan run the farm, having recently taken over for their late father. While families still flock to the farm to enjoy New England traditions like picking strawberries and finding the perfect pumpkin, changing times have made the family’s simple way of life harder than ever for the sisters to sustain. The Trust for Public Land is now working with the Browns to protect over 100 acres of the family farm with a conservation easement as a way to protect the fertile landscape from future development and
allow them to continue, and even expand, their agricultural efforts. Our success will ensure that the Browns can continue to nourish the community with fresh, healthy food, conserve sensitive riparian habitat that supports state and federally listed species, and protect several acres of floodplain forest. With a mile of frontage along the Farmington River, protection of this rural landscape will be critical to the continued health of the Connecticut River watershed. Brown’s Harvest is more than a farm; it represents some of the most highly ranked agricultural land in Connecticut and is one of the last chances to preserve Windsor’s agricultural heritage for future generations. To learn more and participate in the protection of this unique landscape, please visit support.tpl.org/brownsharvest.
ELISA HALSTED
Brown’s Harvest Windsor, CT
O N G O I N G W O R K I N O L D S AY B R O O K , E S S E X , & W E S T B R O O K
The Preserve In Connecticut, The Trust for Public Land is perhaps best known for our work to establish The Preserve, a 1,000-acre coastal forest in the southeastern corner of the state. The Preserve was made possible by a $10 million campaign led by The Trust for Public Land and represents a multi-year collaboration between the State of Connecticut, local communities, and several nonprofit partners. Opened in 2015, the expansive property includes 38 vernal pools, supports more than 3,100 feet of streams, and provides critical habitat for a variety of amphibians and migratory birds; it hosts 25 miles of trails for public recreation and offers endless opportunities for neighbors and visitors to connect with nature. While we are proud of our efforts to create The Preserve, our work did not stop once the land was
protected. This year, we funded a comprehensive botanical inventory of The Preserve and engaged consultants to develop a Forest Management Plan and Public Use Assessment. The plan will guide the future stewardship of the forest and facilitate public engagement around recreational opportunities on the land (all while ensuring that human impact is sensitive to the property’s rare, native species). Our ongoing stewardship of The Preserve continues to bring people together; it is helping to build a stronger community and connect more people to this special place.
“The outdoors are profound— they can transform people.” -Erik Weihenmayer, blind adventurer
MIM ADKINS
The Preserve
Old Saybrook, CT
Meet our new President and CEO Diane Regas, President and CEO Diane Regas joined The Trust for Public Land in spring 2018 as president and CEO. Prior to The Trust for Public Land, Diane worked for more than a decade at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), most recently as executive director, where she helped EDF advance solutions that promote prosperity for all people and for the
Diane earned her A.B., M.S. in energy and resources, and J.D. at the University of California, Berkeley, and resides in Berkeley, CA. An avid outdoor explorer, Diane enjoys hiking, cycling, diving, camping, and spending time in nature with her husband, children, and granddaughter.
LUCY SCHAEFFER
THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND ACTION FUND By law, the Connecticut State Legislature was long able to sell, swap, and give away critical acres of state-owned parks and other natural resources, including forests, wildlife management areas, and agricultural lands without any debate or public input. Changes to the state’s public land system that impact thousands, if not millions of people, could be made in the dark without residents ever having a voice.
planet. Prior to EDF, Diane served at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, working under both Democratic and Republican administrations as the top civil servant protecting our nation’s rivers, lakes, and bays.
Through The Trust for Public Land Action Fund— our 501(c)(4) affiliate—we partnered with Protect Connecticut Public Lands, Inc. to proactively advocate for an Amendment to the state constitution that would change this and put the power over our public lands back in the hands of the people. At the November 6 election, the public stood with us by passing the amendment once and for all. Now, public hearings will be required before selling, swapping, or giving away stateowned lands. And, a two-thirds vote of the State Legislature will be required to make similar changes to agricultural, forest, park, and wildlife management lands owned by the State.
Weir Farm National Historic Site Wilton, CT
Your impact F R O M N E I G H B O R H O O D PA R K S T O N AT I O N A L PA R K S
With your help, The Trust for Public Land has saved over 3 million acres of public land and completed 5,400 park and community projects across the country. Since 1996, we’ve guided nonpartisan political action on over 500 ballot measures across more than 30 states nationwide, generating over $72 billion in public funds for healthy land and water. Today more than 8 million people live within a 10-minute walk of a place created or protected by The Trust for Public Land—and countless more visit these sites each year.
In fiscal year 2018, The Trust for Public Land: • protected 68,996 acres as a part of 83 projects; • celebrated the opening of 24 new parks, including 5 Fitness Zone® areas and 18 playgrounds; • guided nonpartisan political action on 16 successful ballot measures, generating over $4.8 billion for healthy land and water; and • completed 37 strategic conservation plans, using GIS-based analysis to provide communities with a long-term vision for parks and green spaces. (Fiscal year 2018 ran from April 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018)
The Trust for Public Land’s expert Connecticut team CONNECTICUT S TAT E D I R E C T O R APPOINTED TO REVIEW BOARD B Y S TAT E S E N AT E PRESIDENT Connecticut State Director Walker Holmes was appointed to the Natural Heritage, Open Space, and Land Acquisition Review Board by Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney in 2018 for a threeyear term. Walker is thrilled to serve alongside many of the State’s most well-respected conservation leaders.
MEET THE CONNECTICUT TEAM: • Honor Lawler, Project Manager • Walker Holmes, Connecticut State Director • David Wilkins, Connecticut Director of Philanthropy • Pamela Soto, Program Manager • June Sgobbo, Senior Philanthropy Associate
Connecticut Advisory Board We are so grateful for our amazing volunteer leaders Susan Balloch David Berkowitz Don Brownstein Bill Buchanan Mildred Carstensen Andrew Cavanna Raúl de Brigard
Nicole Granath Tom Holloway George Mack Caroline Niemczyk, Chair Carolyn O’Brien Tristram Perkins Harry White In memory of Diana Atwood Johnson
JERRY AND MARCY MONKMAN/ECOPHOTOGRAPHY
Thank you
for supporting The Trust for Public Land as we work to protect land and create parks for people in Connecticut and beyond. We couldn’t do it without you.
Join us. The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.
tpl.org
Walker Holmes Connecticut State Director 203.777.7367 ext. 3 | walker.holmes@tpl.org David Wilkins Connecticut Director of Philanthropy 203.777.7367 ext. 4 | david.wilkins@tpl.org 101 Whitney Avenue, 2nd Floor New Haven, CT 06510
COVER: TOP LEFT, ANNIE BANG; TOP RIGHT, HANNAH LOZANO; MIDDLE LEFT, BRIAN MOHR/EMBER PHOTOGRAPHY; MIDDLE RIGHT, LUCY SCHAEFFER; BOTTOM, JIM HERRITY. DIANE REGAS PHOTO COURTESY OF PLUS M PRODUCTIONS; STAFF PHOTOS COURTESY OF TPL STAFF.