Mill Pond Falls facts for kids

Mill Pond Falls is a beautiful waterfall found in Newington, Connecticut. Many people in the area say it's the "smallest natural waterfall in the United States"! You can find these falls inside Mill Pond Park, and they are celebrated every autumn during a special event called the Waterfall Festival.

Exploring Mill Pond Falls

Mill Pond Falls is located right below Mill Pond, within the lovely Mill Pond Park. There's a walking path that goes all around the pond and through the woods, leading you right to the falls. You can walk across a wooden footbridge that goes over the top of the falls. There's also a special viewing area with benches where you can sit and enjoy the amazing view.

Fun Things to Do at the Park

Mill Pond Park offers lots of activities for everyone! You can go fishing, walking, or biking. There's even a public swimming pool for cooling off in the summer. A pretty gazebo gives you a great spot to see where the pond water drops down to create the falls.

In the summer, a fun event called the Newington Extravaganza lets people ride boats around the pond and past the falls. The area around the falls is kept very neat and tidy, with a small garden nearby. This makes it a popular spot for weddings and other special events. During the Christmas season, the bridge and viewing area get decorated with festive lights and other decorations.

Size and Flow of the Falls

Mill Pond Falls is about 5 meters (16 feet) tall. Back on February 24, 2002, the water flowed at about 16 liters (which is about 4 gallons) every second.

On April 17, 2010, the Newington Waterfall Committee planted a special tree in front of the falls. It's a beautiful Crimson Maple, and they named it the "Thankful Tree." It's a place where people can go to share what they are thankful for.

History of Mill Pond Falls

Mill Pond Falls got its name from a sawmill that was built on Mill Pond way back in 1860. At that time, Newington was part of another town called Wethersfield. The local economy depended a lot on making "pipestaves," which were metal rings used for whiskey barrels. Sawmills were very important for making these pipestaves, so the falls were mainly used to power the mill. People didn't really notice their beauty or fame back then.

Today, the old sawmill has been replaced by the town garage, but the falls are still there. Over the years, the town has worked to show off the falls' natural beauty by creating Mill Pond Park around them. This park allows everyone to visit and enjoy the falls. The importance of Mill Pond Falls to Newington's history is even shown on the Newington Town Seal, where the falls are the main picture!

The Waterfall Festival

Starting in the year 2000, the Newington Waterfall Committee decided to celebrate the falls' history and fame by creating the Waterfall Festival. This festival happens every autumn in the center of town.

What Happens at the Festival?

The Waterfall Festival is a big event! It features more than 70 different vendors, selling all sorts of things. You can also enjoy music from local public school groups. Town organizations and local companies help pay for the event each year.

A very popular part of the festival is the "Artist's Chalk Walk." This is a contest where artists, both adults and children, compete for prizes by creating amazing chalk drawings. Everyone who attends the festival can vote for their favorite artwork!