update

In addition to the Rack cards and Map & Guides, local radio, print and online advertising courtesy of our media sponsors, I hope many of you have seen our banners at the entrance to New London and at the Poquonnock Bridge in Groton. We’ve also added National Public Radio Station WSHU into our marketing mix this year as well as Mystic Luxury Cinema where our TV commercial will air before every movie throughout July. And, we now have a presence at the Mystic Information Center which we are told gets about 250,000 visitors a year. Those of you on the Groton side of the River I hope you’ll see my interview on Mystic Matters, the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce Cable Access show with Membership Director Kristin Hartnett. Thanks, Kristin, that was fun!

Since its inception, the TRHP vision has been to engage the public in programming and events that promote heritage and culture. We have taken a giant step toward making this a reality by developing a formal agreement with the heritage and cultural sites and institutions in the Park to begin this work. Our agreement provides benefits to our Partner Sites such as promotion on our website, inclusion in our Map & Guide and in our social media, and the right to identify themselves as a TRHP Partner using our logo. It also calls for similar reciprocity by the Partner Sites to help promote the Park. A fundamental component to the agreement is the inclusion of the Partner Sites representatives to be directly involved in designing and implementing collaborative initiatives. We will soon be on our way to developing programming and events to improve the Park experience and building more awareness of all we have to offer.

Chap Hanley, Atlantic Broadband VP and General Manager, (center) was on hand to present New London Public Library with two Water Taxi Season Passes for library patrons to use. Shown from left Suzanne Mazursky, New London Public Library Director and Amy Perry, TRHP Executive Director. Through ABB’s generosity, and that of Poppy & Rye Bakery in Norwich and Groton Utilities, patrons of eight New London County libraries can sign out the passes and hop on the water taxi to visit the sites, dine, shop or just enjoy being on the water. The other libraries that have Water Taxi Season Passes include Waterford, East Lyme, Groton, Bill Memorial in Groton, Preston, Slater Library in Jewett City, and Otis Library in Norwich.

Our new Park Ambassador Program is just getting underway. Two students from STEM Magnet School in New London Gianna Rubino and Mia Dorcely, were chosen through an application process that was coordinated by our Park Ambassador Program partner New England Sailing and Science (NESS). The Program gives these students an opportunity to learn about our local history, answer passenger questions about the area, and assist the water taxi mates. As part of the Ambassador Program Mia and Gianna earned their Power Boating Certification through NESS.

This pilot program has been made possible through a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut with additional support from Dominion Energy.

In collaboration with Sea Grant and with support from The Day the Thames River Quest – the first undertaking of this kind for the Park – held Saturday, June 2nd was an outstanding success with approximately 150 participants enjoying three scavenger hunts located at each taxi landing site.

Friends and families put their heads together to follow the word clues leading to the final prize. Most, if not all, of the participants rode the water taxi, which was free between 10 am and noon, in search of another quest. Participants who sent in a photo showing they completed the quest or who made a journal entry at the final location were entered into a prize drawing. June’s prize – a TRHP custom ornament generously donated by Flavours of Life – went to Heidi DeCosta. The Quests are self-guided and can be easily followed by kids ten and older along with a supervising adult. You can download them here.

On Groton Bank Day, Saturday, June 9th, which coincided with the Annual Family Festival at Waterfront Park, over 850 people rode the water taxi courtesy of Electric Boat’s sponsorship. That number represents our boat filled to capacity between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. It was pretty exciting to witness.