About
Originally called the West Haven Shoreline Resilience and Eco-Restoration Project, Eco Park began when a group of citizens became concerned about a 1.5-acre piece of shoreline adjacent to Old Grove Park that had become overgrown with invasive plants and several trees that had fallen after two storms surged through the area. City Councilmember Gary Donovan was meeting with residents and West Haven’s Public Works department to see what could be done to improve the area. Because the land that Eco Park sits on is a part of the 39-acre conservation easement agreement between the Land Trust of West Haven and the City, Marilyn Wilkes, Land Trust Vice President, contacted him to discuss the possibility of turning an eyesore into a best-practice shoreline restoration that would be a beautiful and educational showpiece for the City. They formed a committee to explore how to move forward with the project. On May 15, 2021, the Shoreline Restoration Committee had its first meeting, and work began to develop what is now called Eco Park.
Eco Park Goals
- the restoration of 1.5 acres of native coastal habitat and improved habitat connectivity to adjacent public green spaces;
- long-term plan for invasives control and restoration maintenance;
- a “living classroom” for public use that includes interpretive signs that link by QR code to more information on the Land Trust’s website;
- a public outreach plan that includes free onsite public educational events;
- improvements to walking paths and the addition of Mobi-Mats for ADA beach access
In addition to ecosystem benefits (reduced flooding, storm surge buffer, etc.), community recreational, educational, and well-being benefits, and wildlife support, the project’s long-term utility will be to serve as a model for similar small-scale, high-impact urban coastal restoration efforts that combine nature-based solutions (“green”) with public access infrastructure (“grey”) improvements for the benefit of people and wildlife.
Phase 1
The Shoreline Restoration Committee hired SLR International in July 2022 through a competitive RFP bid process. During the next five months, the Shoreline Restoration Committee worked with SLR to complete a site analysis and assessment report, which included natural/green infrastructure opportunities; preparation of two draft concept plans for the project; ongoing community involvement up to and including collecting input on draft plans through an on-site event and two online surveys; preparation of a final Nature-Based Coastal Resilience Plan; and creation of preliminary engineering plans to 30% design.
In August 2022, State Rep. Dorinda Borer (now Mayor Borer) secured $200,000 in ARPA State funding for the design phase of the project.
Phase 2
In October 2023, GEI Consultants was hired for Phase 2 to take the design plan from 30% to 100%. The Shoreline Restoration Committee chose GEI, a full-service ecological firm, from a competitive pool of RFP applications because it is known for its innovative strategies, extensive experience with successful shoreline projects, and collaborative approach to projects. The original plan had a walkway that ran through the middle of the 1.5-acre parcel. Due to its high construction cost —more than $1 million — that part of the plan was removed.
In December 2024, Mayor Borer secured additional funds from the State Bond Commission to complete the Eco Park project. An RFP was issued, and Ivy League Landscaping, a West Haven company, was selected from the competitive bids received.
Phase 3
The construction of Eco Park is scheduled to start in early March. The plant order will be placed, a site review and grading will be done, followed by plant and interpretive sign installation in late April or May, depending on the weather.
Thank You!
Eco Park could not have happened without the determined work and passion of the people listed below and the countless hours, expertise, and collaboration that went into this initiative. Their tireless commitment to restoring and preserving our shoreline has not only improved our natural landscape but has also strengthened our community’s connection to the environment. The positive impact of their efforts will be felt for generations to come.
Even the best projects, however, will never see the light of day without the money needed to make them happen. A very special thank you to Mayor Dorinda Borer for securing the funds to bring Eco Park to life!
Project Co-Leads
Marilyn Wilkes, Vice President, Land Trust of West Haven
Mark Paine, Director, Parks & Recreation, City of West Haven
Shoreline Restoration Committee
Charles Butler, Michelle Coletti, Gary Donovan, Meli Garthwait, Kathy Graham, Kathie Hebert,
Colleen O’Connor, Robin Parsons, Dabar Ratupenu, Ron Walters, Riley Waterfield, and Jane Whelan
Environmental Organizations
Save The Sound — Anthony Allen was instrumental in the early days of the project as a sounding board and was generous with his advice.
Audubon Connecticut — Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe sourced educational experts and provided the Wildlife Guards during the summer to gather data on-site for the project.
Connecticut Sea Grant — Juliana Barrett brought a wealth of information to the project and was a phenomenal help in developing the interpretive signs, and Deborah Abibou assisted with creating the website content utilizing her invaluable environmental knowledge.
Long Island Sound Study — Harry Yamalis provided advice on funding and helped build awareness for the project.
SLR Consulting — Megan Raymond and Jason Williams created the foundational design for Phase 1 of the project based on community engagement and feedback from the Shoreline Restoration Committee.
GEI Consultants — Laura Schwanof and Michael Koontz continued the project to its final design in Phase 2 and offered masterful plant knowledge and creative design ideas.
Ivy League Landscaping — Justin and Phil Grande provided expert plant sourcing, project management, and installation services for Phase 3 of Eco Park.
Photos for Interpretive Signs and Website
Juliana Barrett graciously allowed us to use many of the photos included in her publication, Connecticut’s Sandy Shores: An Introduction to the Geology, Ecology, Plants, and Animals, with the permission of the photographers, including Juliana, Robert Bachand, Nancy Balcom, Judy Benson, Jenna Castle, Tessa Gethis, Lisa Jaroski, Thomas Morris, Diana Payne, and Mark Szantyr. Additional photos were provided by Marilyn Wilkes.