Winter 2009

RESTORATION PROJECTS IN EDGERTON PARK
A great deal is going on in the park. We, the EPC board members, think you would like to know about all the activity.

The rebuilding of the entire north wall of the greenhouse complex was completed in October thanks to your support of the restoration fund. EPC is now able to renovate the interior of the headhouse, also thanks to your support. The project includes a new floor that will be safer for people with disabilities, refurbished cabinets, and improvements to meet building codes. Be sure to visit the beautifully restored greenhouse complex after the headhouse work is finished in February. The restoration project has taken 20 years, more than $1,000,000, and thousands of volunteer hours. One last, smaller project remains: fixing the uneven walkways. We expect the greenhouses to be self-sustaining: rental fees and designated Conservatory funds will be used to cover the cost of maintenance and repairs so that they will never fall into disrepair again. You have all been splendid in your support of this effort. EPC thanks you.

We can now turn to other park improvements. A long needed addition is handicapped access to the carriage house. We are looking into funding for the design and construction of a suitable entrance to the lecture room. The building is heavily used by many groups and individuals, and handicapped accessibility is the law. With money from rental fees, we will make improvements to the lecture room, library and work room. EPC has also requested estimates for making the remaining major repairs to the building. (Two chimneys, the fire bell, and several dormers need attention.) We look forward to a thorough cleaning of the outside of the building, followed by more plantings this spring.

Last spring EPC began an outdoor restoration project. After clearing many hazardous dead trees, poison ivy, and other invasive plants from the area east of the carriage house gardens, EPC planted 20 trees, 16 mountain laurels, and ten rhododendrons. Loyal park supporters donated a number of the trees. This spring we hope to restore Mrs. Brewster’s azalea garden along the “Maid’s Walk”. We wish to thank Lianne Audette, our groundskeeper, and our summer interns, who came to us thanks to Elm City Parks Conservancy, for preparing the banks either side of the Maid’s Walk. We hope you will enjoy the paths running through that part of the park. (We also hope people will stay on the paths, to avoid erosion of the slopes.)

You may have noticed another improvement to the beauty of the park. EPC has installed attractive wrought-iron trash barrels provided by the Parks Department. Gone are the old blue plastic barrels. Like most projects, it took more time than expected, but the results are a marked improvement.

The south pier at the Edgehill Road entrance to the park as well as the rusted swing metal gate are gone. The EPC board became concerned last summer that any of the hundreds of people coming to Shakespeare in the Park each night with chairs, picnic hampers and children might tap the fragile pier and cause a serious accident, so we had it taken down. The dressed stones are stored and the end of the wall has been stabilized and wrapped. The entrance is now wide enough for big trucks which occasionally enter and is safe for pedestrians. The Parks Department will rebuild the entryway as part of its repair of the perimeter wall project.

We continue to work hard to beat back the many unwanted invasive weeds, trees and vines which birds and the winds bring us. We have devoted workers who help Lianne maintain the grounds, especially Greenbrier clients. We are grateful to Greenbrier, too, for serving as a magnet for many park users, with its sales of plants and its contribution to the maintenance of the park.

We thank Trudi Ganz, EPC’s conservator, who gives extraordinary numbers of hours every week to keep the Conservatory of Tropical and Desert Plants (not to mention some animals) in excellent order. We are proud to show many school groups through this beautiful and educational space. So far this year we have 35 school groups signed up for tours, and we expect 20 more to sign up for April and May. Some teachers have called it “the best field trip in New Haven.”

Thanks to the New Haven Parks Department for all their help and cooperation. And thanks to all of you for your years of loyal support.

SUNDAY IN THE PARK 2008
Last September’s Sunday in the Park was our most successful ever. Stephanie O’Keefe and Candace Walton were the co-chairs. The fair raised over $18,000, all of which is being used to restore and maintain the park. Congratulations to them and thanks to all of you who helped to make it such a success. The businesses listed on the following page made contributions to the Silent Auction. Please support them.

Mark your calendar for September 20, for the next Sunday in the Park. Your help will be welcome, as always. We are looking especially for someone to coordinate volunteers.

A TASTE OF THE TROPICS
Greenbrier Greenhouses of Edgerton Park will host “A Taste of the Tropics” on Sunday, March 22. There will be displays of tropical plants and animals in the greenhouses. In the carriage house you will find tropical food to enjoy.

TO BECOME A MEMBER OF EPC:
Send your check for $20 or more for an individual ($35 for family) to E.P.C., P.O. Box 6163, Hamden, CT 06517.

Business Contributors to Sunday in the Park:

The following businesses contributed Silent Auction items, gift certificates and food. EPC wishes to thank them for their years of loyal support. Special thanks to Bob Fuchs of Archie Moore’s Bar and Restaurant. This was Bob’s 20th year of donating and cooking the food at the lunch tent.

Archie Moore’s
Anna’s
Best Video
Books & Company
Chabaso Bakery
Chestnut Fine Foods & Confections
Christopher Martin’s
Clark’s Dairy
Clark’s Pizza
Dava
Details Hair Salon
Evan’s Toy Shoppe
Fountain Gardening Service
Greater New Haven Community Chorus
Greenbrier
Jet Cleaners
Judies European Bakery
Adrienne Lewis (violin lessons)
Marjolaine
Modern Apizza
Mt. Carmel Wine & Spirits
Nica's
Orange Food Mart
Orange Street Liquours
Oriental Pantry
Paradise Nurseries
Paul & Eddy's Pizza
Peabody Museum
The Playwright (Hamden)
Progressions Hair Salon
Scott Hickman
Shea's Service Station
Spring Glen Hardware
Thyme and Season
Trailblazer
Whitney Flowers
Whitneyville Food Center
Willoughby's Coffee & Tea
Wine Thief

Business Sponsors of Sunday in the Park

Edgerton Park conservancy wishes to thank the following organizations and businesses for their financial support of the fair:

Regional Water Authority
Betsy Grauer Realty
Hopkins School
Ray Baldelli and Wojtek Borowski
Computer Connections--Vining Begelow
Elm Advisors--David Newton
Fountain Organic Gardening Service

Edgerton Park Conservancy’s Sturdy, Reusable Shopping Bags a Hit Avoiding plastic shopping bags? EPC’s green cloth shopping bags with a solid bottom have proven perfect for groceries. Made of recycled materials, the bags cost $5 per bag or $20 for five bags, available in the Horticultural Library in the carriage house, which is open Sundays, from 1 to 4.