Rosa Hartman Park in Old Greenwich Is Set for Improvements

Written by DJ McAneny.

Stamford's about to have one more refined gem amongst its collection of beautiful, tucked away parks scattered throughout the city. 

On Tuesday, project officials joined Mayor Michael Pavia for the ribbon cutting to kick off Phase I improvements to the Rosa Hartman Park at the Stamford entrance to the park off Brown House Road. The improvement palns were designed by landscape architect Stuart Sachs, from PRE/view Landscape Architects in Bridgeport.

The 32-acre park straddles the towns of Stamford (14 acres) and Greenwich (18 acres) and the improvement plan has been in the works since 2006, according to Erin McKenna of the Stamford Land Use Bureau. 

"This is a forgotten little gem that is about to be re-polished," Pavia said. "It has a rich history. It is a park that is basically characterized as a conservation area, although it's used for picnicking, though it hasn't been lately because of its deteriorating state."

The park is steeped in history, and Pavia recalled the story of English settler Cornelius Laddin, who, according to legend, road his horse over the side of a 40-foot cliff while being chased by Native Americans, falling to his death. 

The Greenwich side of the park is called “Laddins Rock.”  The legend goes that in 1642, an English settler named Cornelius Laddin was chased by Native Americans over the 40-foot cliff on the Greenwich side to his death in 1642. The park's land was donated to the City of Stamford on Sept. 12, 1955, by Jesse Hartman, "For Public Purpose,” and named for his mother, he stipulated. 

There are $185,000 worth of improvements, being completed by WJL Equities out of Westchester, NY, that started with hauling off six Dumpster loads of fallen or dead trees, followed by a list of tasks yet to be completed, which include:

• Repaving of the parking lot;
• Installation of wetland buffers with native wetland plants;
• Installations of rain gardens to naturally accommodate stormwater discharge;
• Landscaping with native plants;
• Open space for a picnic area;
• New portable toilet shelter/screen and kiosk; and
• New utility gate & entrance sign
  

McKenna said the improvements have, from the start, been a collaborative effort between Stamford and Greenwich. In particular she highlighted the efforts of Denise Savageau, director of the Greenwich Conservation Commission, and Bruce Spaman, tree warden and superintendent of Parks and Trees in Greenwich. Additionally, McKenna thanked Althea Brown, community director and comptroller of the Waterside Coalition. 

Phase II is not yet funded and continuation of the improvements would depend on public response to initial efforts. 

"Pursuit of a Phase 2 depends upon whether the public enjoys the park as it is or would like to see further amenities installed, which could include a pavilion, a plumbed bathroom, additional parking, and a vehicle turn-around/drop-off in the picnic area," McKenna noted.