New Haven Independent

The budding group recently formed to protect and improve a neglected stretch of parkland along the Quinnipiac River. Organizers held a picnic Sunday afternoon at the riverine setting just opposite the Quinnipiac Terrace projects.

The group is led by (left to right) Pat Bissell, 12th Ward co-chair Tina Jendrzewski, who used to, swim — yes, swim — at Dover Beach as a kid in the 1950s, and Carla Johnson, president of the Q Terrace tenants’ residence council.

As the group gathered Sunday, not only were people meeting and eating, bonding and debating priority renovations — do we replace swing sets for the kids or first fix the sea wall? — but the Dover Beachers found themselves backed up by two strong community groups.

They were joined by supporters of both the Quinnipiac River Community Group and the Chatham Square Neighborhood Association, plus several nearby block watches. The collective presence served to make the event not only a fine time for the 75 attendees, but also to announce that these three communities, which have in common, the beauty, draw, and resources of the Quinnipiac River, will be working together.

The event was not a formal meeting, but a place for forming the relationships that make for successful future meeting. It was already clear that all populations using the park needed to be served.

Nettie Joyner, for example, has been living at Q Terrace, the previous old troubled project and now the promising new development, for 37 years, ever since her arrival in New Haven from North Carolina.

“What we need here,” she said, “are not only things for the kids, but also benches and tables and grills. Some of those used to be here and then got broken.”

Reverend Kevin Ewing (on the right), chief organizer of the Chatham Square Neighborhood Association, grilled the burgers and hot dogs and also sizzled with lots of ideas. So was Mark Aronson, the conservator of paintings at the Yale British Art Center, who dropped by for some lunch as well as some Quinnipiac River birding (flocks of sanderlings and egrets fishing for their young obliged).

“My first idea,” said Aronson, “is that the city and state take I-91 over there and run it underground and under the river.”

And a second idea, Aronson? “I think this would be a remarkable spot for a vegetable garden. The Q Terrace houses don’t look like they have much room for gardens, but here it could be fantastic. And really community building.”

Ewing said that his Chatham Square group (the ever-organizing Ewing is also president of the West River Neighborhood Services Corporation) has embraced the Friends of Dover Beach. “You know how you measure what a neighborhood is? It covers wherever I can walk in any direction for ten minutes, plus the natural geographic boundary, like the river. Today it’s about enjoying ourselves and sharing and building our relationships. You see how many different groups are here? This is fantastic.”

And complicated. For example, he explained, “The residents are legitimately worried about the safety of their kids. But if that’s what’s presented to the city alone, then we’ll end up with a big fence here, and so many of the other stakeholders don’t want that. It’s about listening to each other and building trust and a common vision. We’re on the way.”

“Don’t Mess Up The Scenery”

At a previous organizing meeting, a chief question was the use of some $600,000 in money set aside in the Q Terrace budget to renovate and repair the park. Those funds are now being deployed for repair of the long-ignored seawall. Debate swirls as to whether the seawall should be a traditional one of stone, which the city favors, or one where marsh and vegetation do the job, which the state Department of Environmental Protection advocates.

However that debate gets settled, Carla Johnson feels strongly that there should be resources available to make the park more congenial and safer for residents, especially the more than 100 kids living across the street in Q Terrace. And it should happen soon, before somebody is injured or is drowned in tidal current, which is particularly strong at this narrows of the river.

“Quality of life here in the park needs to be the number one priority,” she said. Johnson’s son Alex and several other of the young teens called for a basketball court, the littler kids, such as Shekinah Hawkins, age nine, suggested water slides or a swimming pool. And, of course, some of the older teens, such as sixteen-year olds Morgan Files and Mallesha Johnson, said, “We want a social center, a clubhouse, a place to hang out. A speedboat! A DJ!”

“Sure!” said Carla Johnson, with a maximum roll of her eyes.

One interesting young 14-year old, Lawand Bullock, said, “Whatever you do, don’t mess up the scenery.”

Frosting on the cake of event were congratulations to the Grand Avenue News, the local community-building newspaper, founded by Brent Bissell (second from left, with supporter Mary Hanlon), presented in a formal aldermanic proclamation of praise by Fair Haven Alderman Joey Rodriguez.

The next steps involve deepening the formal relationship between Friends of Dover Beach and the Chatham Square group, and a meeting so city officials can hear Q Terrace and others’ concerns directly. “We hope the new police chief will be coming,” said Carla Johnson.

The next meeting is set for Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. at the community room at Q Terrace.