Town of Old Saybrook, CT - Founders Memorial Park

There is a growing trend of communities reclaiming their old landfills to provide additional open space, moving away from viewing closed landfills strictly as a liability. Communities across the country have developed projects that include active and passive uses for old landfills. The Town of Old Saybrook intends for the post closure use of the Coulter Street landfill as the new Founders Memorial Park.

The Founders Memorial Park site currently consists of four lots at the end of Coulter Street reaching out into North Cove. Portions of the Park were gifted to the Town in 1993 by members of the tenth generation of direct male descendents of the Clarke Family, who were original settlers of the Saybrook Colony (1635-1660). The overall Park lies on either side of a portion of a former rail right-of-way, also owned by the Town of Old Saybrook, which serves as access to North Cove in a similar manner to that of the many other “road endings” in town. The two southern-most lots are characterized entirely by tidal marsh (8.1 acres). The majority of municipal improvements are on the remaining two lots, north of the old railbed (13.1 acres).

Founders Memorial Park honors the original settlers of the Saybrook Colony. The vision is to create a first-rate community park, integrated into the town center of Old Saybrook, that takes advantage of a magnificent panoramic setting of North Cove on the Connecticut River from the former Coulter Street landfill. The Park will be a place where all members of the public will be able to enjoy the commanding views of the River, watch birds and other wildlife, take walks, picnic and enjoy the outdoors. The Town will continue its leaf composting facility, which is a progressive management of organic matter for landscaping and upkeep of municipal facilities.

North Cove is an important stopover site for migratory birds, as well as a refuge for wintering ducks that seek protection from the rougher waters of Long Island Sound. The Park lies next to the 140-acre Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge, jointly owned by the State of Connecticut, The Nature Conservancy and the Town of Old Saybrook. The Town intends to legally dedicate these properties (via easement or deed restriction) for the purpose of conservation, recreation, and education, ensuring that there will be no impact on North Cove from the uses proposed. Within the conservation areas of the Park, the Town recently began to eradicate the common reed, a non-native, invasive plant species (phragmites Australis).

An equally important conservation aspect of the municipal improvement is the continuation of the Town’s leaf composting facility, permitted pursuant to procedures set out in Connecticut General Statutes (§ 22a-208i). This gated portion of the Park will be open to residents via motor vehicle seasonally October through December for the deposition of organic lawn materials (the Town uses compost to condition the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils it uses for landscaping of its parks and playgrounds). It is anticipated that there is no need for parking spaces specifically designated for the leaf composting facility. There will be no dust, dirt, smoke, gas, fumes, nor flammable or hazardous substances.

Birders from across the state seek out the quiet coastal waters of North Cove for the large rafts of wintering ducks and occasional rare birds hidden among the others. The vistas of the Connecticut River and Long Island Sound lend themselves to the creation of low-impact and handicap-accessible public facilities, such as benches for viewing and access for car-top boats, for the passive recreational component of the Park.

The gated entrance to the Park will be opened during its hours of operation from dawn to dusk. The Park is not lit, except for on-street lighting at the terminus of Coulter Street. Use of Founders Memorial Park will be subject to the Town’s park and recreation area regulations (Chapter 402 of the Town Code). As with other Town parks, there may be ceremonies, gatherings or special events as allowed by special permission of the Director of the Parks & Recreation Department. The use of the public facilities is on a first-come-first-serve basis, and group picnics/gatherings or the use of the Park after normal hours (dawn to dusk).

The Town will provide for containers and collection of all garbage, trash, refuse, and paper. Dogs and pets must be on leashes at all times; horses and ponies are prohibited. Picnicking is limited to the places designated by the Parks & Recreation Department. Hunting or carrying firearms or bow and arrows in any park is prohibited. Recreation vehicles, including snowmobiles, mini-bikes, go-carts, unregistered motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles are prohibited from the Park.

It will be handicap accessible. There are eleven (11) parking spaces provided throughout the Park – seven (7) parking spaces on either side of the Coulter Street entrance to the park at the gated rail right-of-way; to accommodate fishermen and car-top boaters (canoes and kayaks) and another four (4) parking spaces provided within the overlook drive area atop the former landfill. The driveway through the leaf composting facility, although gated, will be reachable during the rest of the year by pedestrians, who may be cross-country skiing, dog walking or birding.

The Park is located off Main Street (on Coulter Street) and ideally situated to demonstrate how to attain a protected and vital river ecosystem where human activity is in balance with the preservation and enhancement of the region's natural, scenic, and community resources. The Park will include learning opportunities similar to that found at Fort Saybrook Monument Park on Saybrook Point. The Town will craft a series of “education stations” along the trails located with respect for the existing vegetation. Through photographs, drawings and descriptions of native flora and fauna found on interpretive signage along the path, visitors will learn that the Connecticut River Estuary is one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth.

The Board of Selectmen established its Founders Memorial Park Ad Hoc Committee in June 2005. The Committee consists of five members representing the Board of Selectmen, the Parks & Recreation Commission, the Conservation Commission, and two from the community at-large. The Committee works closely with the Town Engineer, the Directors of Parks & Recreation, Public Works, and Land Use and a consulting landscape architect for technical, procedural, and administrative assistance.

As a Connecticut River community, the Town is supported by the Trust for Public Land in its efforts to protect riverfront parcels, secure appropriate public access, and integrate local conservation efforts with regional initiatives, such as the surrounding Silvio O. Conte National Fish & Wildlife Refuge." "ttp://www.fws.gov/r5soc/index.html