Visit Revitalized Southport Park at June 1 Grand Opening

Years of resourcefulness, creativity, and hard work will culminate on June 1 with the grand opening of the revitalized Southport Park, across from the Delamar Hotel.  

The park has a long history. It begins with a railroad project -- the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad had bought the property in the 1890s, and then in 1912 clear-cut the area to use the wood to pay for an expansion project.  

Southporter Milton Lacey purchased the cleared land from the railroad and in 1915, he and other residents formed the Southport Park Association and began restoration work.  

In 1950, the deed for the park was transferred to the Sasquanaug Association, with the condition that the property be maintained for public use and protection of plants and wildlife.  

Since 1950, the Sasquanaug Association has been performing upkeep for the property, but the 11 acres of park had been chronically underutilized.  

A desire to "restore and preserve the park's natural beauty" kicked into gear a few years ago, when the Friends of Southport Park and the Sasquanaug Association began raising money for "key enhancements" to increase the park's "attractiveness for community use," according to the project website.  

Together, the groups raised $350,000 to make Southport Park the local amenity it was meant to be.  

"We did this for the community," Frank Festini, a member of the Sasquanaug Association, said. "This is for everyone to use."  

The groups hired local architect Mark Finlay to helm the design, with consulting from the Aspetuck Land Trust. Gathering areas, benches, and play areas were added to the property. Natural structures (like benches and parts of the play areas) were created from the wood of trees felled by recent storms.  

More than a half mile of new walking trails were added and existing ones widened, Festini said.  

The Connecticut Audubon Society advised on which plants were invasive species that had to go, and which new plants the association should bring into the park.   Eliminating the invasive species and bringing animal-friendly plants to the park created new habitats to house wildlife, Festini said.  

"You never really heard a lot of birds in the park, and now you do," Festini said. "We brought of life back in -- it's brought a lot of color to the park."  

Community members can celebrate the restoration of the park on June 1. The Grand Opening takes place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will include a scavenger hunt, face painting, an Audubon Society nature walk and talk, and live music. Click here for more details.