On a recent inspection, I noticed that the dam at Mill River Park has started to come down. The river will soon regain its natural flow for the first time in hundreds of years.
This phase is one of the first steps in a process that will make dramatically revitalize this park. The construction began following the groundbreaking on May 18, but the entire project was several years in the making and it’s finally coming to fruition. I know I’m looking forward to watching all the pieces come together.
When you get a chance, walk over and take a look.
I walk over the bridge at Broad St. pretty frequently and it’s actually sort of exciting to see the water moving in the river instead of it just sitting there stagnant, even if it’s all under construction.
Comment by Chris Preovolos — August 5th, 2009 @ 6:53 am
Not sure who hatched this plan in the first place but instead of removing the walls, keeping the dam and reconstructing the river bed into a broad ‘reflecting pool’ which would have been beautiful and impressive you are tearing down the dam which will essentially turn the river back into a creek about 12 feet across. Nice job Dan.
Comment by dave french — August 5th, 2009 @ 7:51 am
Being born in Stamford, living their for my first 30 years, and traveling to Stamford over the last 20 years. I cannot believe the mess that has been created in the way the city looks especially Mill River park. Dan this all happened on you’re watch and you blog about it?
Comment by P. Danniels — August 5th, 2009 @ 9:09 am
You gonna use dynamite? I like explosions!
Comment by MJ — August 5th, 2009 @ 9:49 am
Dave and P., It appears that you don’t understand the benefits of restoring the river to its natural state. I hope that in a few years we’ll have new cherry blossoms, spawning fish, a kayak launch downstream for access to the sound, and lots of water- and song-birds enjoying the park and river. Rivers don’t make good reflecting pools because they dump so much silt when they hit the dam. It’s not a pond. I think it will be great for Stamford, but you need some patience.
Comment by Anne — August 5th, 2009 @ 1:06 pm
Anne,
I am not sure how long you have lived in Stamford. My family has been their since the late 1800′s. I do understand more then you will know. When I was growing up Mill River was full edge to edge. This will never be the case again.The surrounding area was never a “popular” neighborhood, at best attracting drug user, alcoholics, prostitutes and pimps. Stamford is worse now then it has ever been. The City has built homes on parcels that were ink wells, petroleum refilling depots old manufacturing facilities along the waters edge. The list goes on. Stamford was a nice town at on time. This is not the case now, take a walk around your beautiful City, east side, west side, south side and the rebounding areas called waterside. You can tear it down invest in new packaging as you have done. In the end you still see a crime rate surpassing the expectation of the investment.
Comment by P. Danniels — August 6th, 2009 @ 6:35 pm
Rather see all this money go towards dredging Holly Pond which has been on the agenda for many years and is LONG over due
Comment by bob — August 7th, 2009 @ 5:14 am
I agree with Anne. P. Danniels if you think Stamford is so terrible, no one is forcing you to stay here. The area around Mill River was a blighted wasteland for years and finally it is turning into a beautiful public place that anyone can enjoy. It also has environmental benefits and will restore natural habitat for plants, birds and fish. It has nothing to do with homes being built on property that was formerly manufacturing. Would you rather have an old rotting factory or a petroleum refilling depot sitting on the gorgeous coastline polluting it? Or would you like to be able to get in a kayak and spend a few hours out on the water on a beautiful day? If you want factories on the waterfront move the bridgeport.
Comment by Lindsay — August 7th, 2009 @ 2:17 pm
Well Lindsay,
I guess I touched a nerve. This is good. I will say what was lost once will never be found. How many criminal incidents have occurred in the place where you want this to happen, stabbings, muggings, take a look at the daily incident reports at the SPD they are open to the public. What makes you think this will change? Chery blossoms? Kayaking? How many people were told that their homes, condos were built on contaminated land? Knowing the developers of the area personally gives me a little more insight. I have a book due out in the Spring of 2010, Stamford the Corrupt Years. Like I said I know more then you. Please do more background investigating on Stamford before you chime in.
Comment by P.Danniels — August 7th, 2009 @ 9:25 pm
Mr. Mayor, in the spring the project seemed to be on the fast track only to get the cherry trees down before they bloomed. It then took almost a month for the first shovel of dirt to be turned. Now, months later, the project doesn’t seem to have the same urgency it had in the spring. I thought by now we would have seen some dredging equipment in there. I live in the neighborhood and pass by several times daily. I can’t imagine why it is taking so long to finish the project. Surely the weather has been ideal for this kind of construction.
Comment by Bob — August 12th, 2009 @ 12:46 pm