Edgewood Park, New Haven facts for kids

Edgewood Park is a large public park in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. It sits between the Edgewood and Westville neighborhoods. The park covers over 120 acres (about 49 hectares) along the West River. It's a great place for outdoor fun and relaxation.

You can find many things to do here. There are walking trails, ponds, and wetlands with a special viewing platform. The park also has a gazebo, a dog run, a playground, a skate park, tennis courts, and a basketball court. You can also see memorials for the Spanish–American War and the Holocaust.

Park History: How Edgewood Park Began

The story of Edgewood Park started in 1889. The City of New Haven took over 60 acres of land. They gave it to a new Park Commission to develop it.

More land was later given by people like Nicholas W. Hubinger, James Mason, and Donald Mitchell. Donald Mitchell was an author who lived on a farm called "Edgewood." This farm gave the park its name.

In 1910, a famous landscape architect named Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. designed the park's layout. He planned many beautiful features. These included a large rose garden, a "grandmother's garden," and a lily pond. There was also an archery field, groves of trees, and trails. He even designed carriage drives and a bridle path for horses that was over three miles long.

There was a natural spring with cold, clean water in the park. Local people used to drink from it in the summer. Later, it was turned into a drinking fountain.

Skate Park: Fun for Skaters

One of the most popular spots in Edgewood Park is the Edgewood Skate Park. It is the only skate park in New Haven. It used to be a skating rink. Today, it's a busy place for skateboarders and rollerbladers. It is located next to the Coogan Pavilion.

Duck Pond: A Story of Nature's Comeback

The Edgewood Park Pond is often called the duck pond. It's a well-known part of the park. This small pond is located below Chapel Street, between Yale Avenue and Ella T. Grasso Boulevard.

Why the Duck Pond Needed Help

Long ago, this area was a natural flood plain for the West River. But over many years, buildings and changes to how water flowed changed the natural ecosystem. The river flows into Long Island Sound, which affects the water's level and saltiness.

Around 1920, special gates called tide gates were built along the river. These gates stopped ocean water from flowing too far upstream. They also protected areas from flooding caused by tides. While this helped with development, the river itself started to get unhealthy.

Restoring the Duck Pond's Health

In 2009, an organization called Save the Sound stepped in. Their goal is to protect and rebuild Long Island Sound. They received $2.2 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This money helped with two projects: one along the West River and one in the duck pond.

Three of the old tide gates were removed. New, self-regulating tide gates were put in their place. These new gates allow water to flow in both directions. This helps bring back the natural tide flow in more of the river. The gates also have safety features. They close automatically if water levels get too high, preventing big floods.

The duck pond itself also changed a lot to bring back its natural habitat. Old concrete walkways were removed. Raised wooden bridges were built instead. This allows water to flow freely underneath them. Native plant species were also planted to help rebuild the right kind of plants in the area.

The final steps of these projects were finished in 2016. While it takes time to see big changes in nature, local fishermen have said that the improvements have helped. These projects are great examples of restoration ecology in action. This is the science of helping damaged ecosystems recover.