The Land Trust of West Haven Connecticut

Annual Meeting of the Land Trust of West Haven
2025-10-16 18:30 - 2026-03-15 13:02 (America/New_York) | West Haven City Hall
The Annual Meeting is an important opportunity for members to come together, hear updates on the progress of our projects, and help shape the future of the Land Trust. We will review accomplishments from the past year, share plans for the year ahead, and welcome input from members.

We are excited to have Juliana Barrett speak on “The Connecticut Coast – What makes our beaches unique?” at the start of our meeting. She is an ecologist and educator with the Connecticut Sea Grant College Program at UConn. Ms. Barrett’s presentation will explore the Connecticut coast, focusing on its geology, ecology, plants, and animals. Connecticut’s beaches are different from those directly along the Atlantic Ocean. How does this shape what we see, and how are our shorelines changing over time? Copies of Connecticut’s Sandy Shores: An Introduction to the Geology, Plants and Animals, a 130-page field guide, will be available for purchase.

In addition, the Annual Meeting is when elections for the Board of Directors are held. Serving on the Board is a meaningful way to support land conservation and stewardship in West Haven. If you are interested in being considered for election, please contact Marilyn Wilkes at 203-415-4712 by October 1.

We encourage all members to attend—your voice and participation make a difference. Following the business portion of the meeting, there will be time for informal conversation and refreshments.

Beach Clean Up
2026-05-09 09:00 - 11:00 | Old Grove Park Facilities Building, West Haven, 06516, United States
Join volunteers from the Land Trust of West Haven to help with a beach clean-up. All are welcome, including children if accompanied by an adult. Come to the Park/Rec Activities Building in Old Grove Park on the Boardwalk between Oak Street and Alschuler Plaza any time between 9 AM and 11 AM.
Please register here: https://yaledayofservice.volunteerhub.com/vv2/event/859cd3e9-c0db-4cd4-a4ff-c41716af59c8
There is paid parking in either the Oak Street or Alschuler Plaza lots. Residents park for free.
Gloves and trash bags will be provided. In the event of inclement weather, the event will be canceled and not rescheduled.

City of West Haven and Land Trust Announce Grand Opening of Eco Park
2026-06-11 18:00 - 19:00 | Eco Park, 1 Palace Street, West Haven, CT, 06516, United States
The City of West Haven and the Land Trust of West Haven are proud to announce the grand opening of Eco Park, a new coastal environmental space designed to restore native habitat and provide environmental education opportunities for the community.
The public is invited to attend a Grand Opening Celebration on Thursday, June 11, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, along the West Haven shoreline. The event will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, remarks from the city and the Land Trust, refreshments, music, and family-friendly activities.

Book Event: Saving Our Shore
2026-06-18 17:30 - 19:00 | First Congregational Church on the Green, 1 Church Street, West Haven, CT, 06516, United States
Thursday, June 18
5:30 PM
First Congregational Church on the Green
We are pleased to invite you to a special meeting of the Land Trust to introduce a remarkable new book by Land Trust founder Steve Hildrich.
Steve’s book, Saving Our Shore – West Haven’s 40-Year Struggle to Keep the Savin Rock Shore Public: A Documentary History, is a 450-plus-page collection of more than 230 historical documents, including newspaper articles, letters, court decisions, and other materials chronicling the effort to preserve public access to West Haven’s shoreline.
The book includes a 13-page historical summary that was previously published in Dan Shine’s History Corner in the West Haven Voice, as well as material documenting the early history of the Land Trust of West Haven, which Steve founded in 1991.
A limited number of printed copies are being produced and distributed to local organizations, including the Land Trust, the City of West Haven, the West Haven Historical Society, and the West Haven Public Library. Digital versions will also be made available through the Land Trust, the First Congregational Church, and the Historical Society, with plans to make the book available through Amazon.
