FREE.
Save the Sound and Site Projects invite you to our newly transformed community park in Fair Haven. Start with the guided tour along the Mill River Trail led by local filmmaker, Steve Hamm, and be immersed in the storytelling of the ecosystem and history of the river. At the end of the tour, you will arrive at our transformed green space at the intersection of Haven and Exchange Streets, a site previously used as a dumping ground for over a decade. Now, with trash removed, native vegetation planted, and a new mural by artist Frenemy, this beautified park will provide benefits for the ecosystem and community alike. Learn about the process of this transformation and the science behind its design from Save the Sound staff members. Interact with the mural artist and help paint the final details of the large scale mural! Join us in making connections across nature, art, and community in our public launch of the freshest green space in this neighborhood.
Participants have the option of taking the guided Mill River tour starting at Orange Street and English Drive or meeting us directly at Haven and Exchange Street. Parking is available in the John S. Martinez School parking lot.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Note that the walking tour along the Mill River Trail will start at the trailhead located at English Dr. And Orange St. in East Rock (see map).
Parking is available on Orange St.
The park gets busy on the weekends, so plan to arrive 10 – 15 minutes early to find a spot.
Your tour guide, Steve Hamm, will start the tour here and introduce you to the area with stories about the history and ecosystem of the Mill River. The group will leave a few minutes after 3:00 pm.
The trail walk will take you through well-manicured parts as well as parts still “in progress.”
Please wear close-toed shoes and long pants as you will be walking through narrow trails and thick vegetation in some parts. Parts of the trail will also include crossing street intersections as the Mill River meets the urban landscape in Fair Haven.
Please also bring plenty of water for an afternoon outdoors and prepare for a 1.5-mile walk.
The tour ends at the intersection of Haven St. and Exchange St. In Fair Haven, adjacent to the John S. Martinez Elementary School (see map). Here you will be introduced to the first green park in Fair Haven, designed by Save the Sound. You will then have the opportunity to interact with the large-scale mural painted by Site Projects commissioned artist, Frenemy.
At the end of the event, you can either walk the trail back to the start or coordinate with staff and guests on site to carpool back to your parked car.
For guests that opt out of the trail walk, you can meet us directly at Haven and Exchange and park in the John S. Martinez parking lot.
This event will highlight many Fair Haven projects in progress and we invite you to contribute your ideas to the future of this neighborhood.
Please bring water and dress for outdoor exercise. The Haven and Exchange St. park is ADA accessible, however areas of our Mill River tour are not.
All questions and concerns can be directed to Melissa Pappas at mpappas@savethesound.org or via phone at 480-212-6630.
