New Haven Independent

Most of all, he thought a little history needed to be infused. “I’d like to see the area’s oystering past described on some signage,” he said. “History would make this more of a community place and give a sense of belonging.”

The outing Saturday morning was part of a formal “placemaking workshop” organized jointly by CitySeed and the Project for Public Spaces (PPS), which is headquartered in New York City. Chris Heitman of PPS (pictured here with Jean Webb, a lover of Quinnipiac River Park) said his organization, which has worked in over 1,000 communities worldwide, is dedicated to helping design public spaces that build community, encourage interaction, and foster a human spirit. With a special focus on green markets’ contribution to this fine goal, PPS awarded CitySeed a grant in no small part because three of its four markets operate within New Haven’s parks.

“It’s not fully appreciated,” he said, “and was actually a bit of a surprise to me that when you interview people about farmers’ markets, what they like best about them, invariably the first item is not the fresh food or the prices, but the sociability, the sense of connecting to other people that markets foster.”

PPS explores how to come up with the delicate balance of amenities, signage, transportation, utilization of the edges of a park, and creation of an image of safety, accessibility, and comfort for different constituencies. That is the latest challenge for the lovers of Quinnipiac River Park.

How not only to make the park work for the immediate community but also to help to unite people, from park to park, to community to community, was the thrust of three hours of pleasant walking and brainstorming. Misty Geistert and her two-and-a-half year-old daughter Anya were, for example, keenly interested in apparatuses for little kids to play on. She lives near little Lewis Park, a small green triangle where Lewis Street descends to Front Street. She described the place as largely a dog run, with too much broken glass and garbage around to be “super welcome” environment for little ones.

Jean Webb, who works for the Festival of Arts and Ideas, was protective of the sense of peace in Quinnipiac River Park, its long uninterrupted rectangle of grass falling contemplatively down to the water’s edge. “And then I saw what we could also do here with the Arts & Ideas concert when the Louis Kahn Barge docked across from here, when 1,000 people were picnicking on the grass. This is such a great asset, we have to work to make it a place for large groups and small, for kids, and for the fishermen.”

Three of those fishermen who consented to interrupt their baiting to be interviewed as part of the workshop were the Arminios, John and John Jr. age four and his brother Louis, age 13. They live in the Annex now. John senior, 37, grew up on Front Street. He said the park is tremendously improved since those days. “It’s beautiful now compared to when I was a kid. I’m very protective of my kids, and I wouldn’t be with them here if I didn’t feel it was safe. Still to me, all this litter is really a problem.” Then he and his crew went back to angling for striped bass and bluefish.

Back at the Fair Haven Library, the participants worked in groups. They came up with recommendations, short and long, a list of partners to work with, and a sense of next steps. Local Ward 14 Alderwoman Erin Sturgis-Pascale, Lee Cruz, of the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, and architecture activist Anstress Farwell (pictured below) comprised one group who thought big. “Wouldn’t it be great,” said Sturgis-Pascale, “if, long-term, we could have water ferries that could bring people across the river from East Haven and beyond to the park, and from there they could catch local transportation to their jobs.”

“Great, great,” said Cruz. “Here’s what I would also love to see: They get off and take those electric trolleys from the park downtown. The trolleys could run a route that takes them by Chatham Square Park, to pick up other passengers, and they could see the rest of Fair Haven and get connected through the parks.”

When a reporter mentioned the trolleys, with their limited electric charge, might have a hard time making it all the way to Quinnipiac River Park, Cruz was undeterred. “Oh, listen, English Station is a perfect place for a re-charging set-up. This could be great.”

Other long-term amenities suggested by City Seed Program Director Nicole Berube and other participants included notions for a permanent place to put in kayaks, canoes, and even reconstructions of “sharpies,” old-fashioned oystering boats that used to fill the Quinnipiac River like the phragmites and spartina. “There could be telescopes and public sculpture and play equipment for kids, including even a splash pad, but these should perhaps best be deployed in such a way as not to impede the shore, the view, and the contemplative spirit the space engenders for its many users. Short term, better lighting, parking, traffic calming, and some planters.”

Heitman described the day’s events as the beginning of a conversation about a vision for not only Quinnipiac River Park (that’s the triggering focus because of the farmers’ market), but all the parks of Fair Haven. These include Chatham Square, Dover Park, now being reconfigured across from the evolving Quinnipiac Terrace, and Criscuolo Park down on River by James.

From a practical point of view, how was this conversation going to move forward? He said CitySeed’s informal partners already include the Quinnipiac River Community Group, Junta, GAVA, and the Fair Haven Community Health Clinic.

Cruz added, “I want people to know that the community foundation has funding set aside for Chatham Square Park area. We’d probably be willing to advance this effort if we can connect it to, for example, accessibility; to getting more people from the Chatham Square Park area down to Quinnipiac River Park, and to the farmers’ market there.”

Stay tuned.