update

Our 2 Water Taxis have been donated!

Yesterday, Transition Team Chair Chris Cox gave the Team some great news.

This is your basic Willard utility boat--roomy, efficient, and coming to the Thames River next year! — *This is your basic Willard utility boat–roomy, efficient, and coming to the Thames River next year!*

“The Navy has allocated two Willard Utility boats valued at $137,000 each to us for a small, $100 fee! These are identical to the Liberty launch that we used in the demonstration project. We are, needless to say, thrilled.”

Chris also added that Crocker’s Boatyard is helping sponsor the project by storing the boats, which will be delivered within the next 2-3 weeks.

Groton City Mayor Marian Galbraith, whose work as Chair of the Water Taxi Subcommittee was, in Chris’ words, “central to the acquisition effort,” clarified that the donation was made possible by both the General Services Administration with the support of the US Navy, and the Connecticut Federal Surplus Program, part of the State Administrative Services Department, who agreed on the (very minimal) cost to us of the boats.

The City of Groton will be the technical recipient and “owner” of the boats, which are already stipulated for use as water taxis by the Heritage Park.

As mentioned earlier, the boats will undergo a survey before being transported, but there are rumors of a “They’re Finally Here” party to be held on the date they arrive. We’ll keep you posted.

Updates to the Yale Study . . . and letters of support galore

In April 2015 The Yale Urban Design Workshop presented a comprehensive study of the proposed Park, its history, and area surrounding it, and compiled an overview of how the park could “engage residents and visitors in a rich program of events, culture and experiences which celebrate the diverse peoples and traditions that have shaped the life of the region.”

You can find the entire document here, and as of now it includes an “Appendix,” which is actually a collection of the many letters of support that the Steering Committee received in favor of the establishment of the Park, and an overview of Water Taxi demonstration project last year. These letters are key in our application to receive two surplus Navy vessels that will be able to take visitors across the river and connect the parks. You can also read them in a separate document here—they’ll give you more insight into the many organizations and institutions that are really excited about the Park and its possibilities.

Water Taxi Letters of Support

We have a Name, and a Mission!

The Transition Team met on October 28^th and various subcommittees reported on their progress; all activities appear to be on schedule, and even potential office space for the new non-profit was discussed.

What was really exciting, though, was the final approval of the name of the new entity, as well as its mission statement.

The new non-profit will be called the Thames River Heritage Park Foundation.

This is its mission statement:

“The Thames River Heritage Park Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission and purpose is to develop, promote, coordinate, and help preserve a new type of Connecticut state park known as the Thames River Heritage Park, which will include sites of national and historical significance along the Thames River in and around the City and Town of Groton and New London, located across from each other near the mouth of the river. The Foundation carries out its purpose in collaboration with the State of Connecticut, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Navy, local municipalities and regional authorities, and the numerous heritage sites within its area. A primary role of the Foundation is the oversight and operation of a water shuttle system designed to transport visitors to and from sites of significance on both sides of the Thames River.”

We are now eagerly awaiting word, which should come in two weeks, on the two Navy surplus boats we’ve applied for. With the boats plus the approval of our Urban Act grant application, which we hope will be on the Bond Commission agenda in January 2016, we will be well on our way to having the water taxis operational by next summer. Fingers and toes crossed!

It’s Official

The Thames River Heritage Park Steering Committee met for the final time last Wednesday, and agreed that the Transition Team would take over the coordination of the next steps in forming the non-profit that works in collaboration with the sites within the Park on both sides of the Thames River. One of our favorite reporters, Judy Benson of the New London Day, has been covering both the Steering Committee and Transition Team’s activities since their inception; you can find her article on the hand-off here.

The Steering Committee met for over a year to “revive a plan to join existing historical sites on both sides of the Thames River into a multi-site state park.” Many members are now members of the Transition Team, including Chris Cox, who is its new Chair. This is really helpful, since it ensures the continuity of the activities planned and the timeline for completion. For example, the two grant applications initiated by the Steering Committee are now being overseen by Transition Team sub-committees, and hopefully we’ll hear some news regarding their status within the next few weeks. At the Team’s next full meeting we’ll be approving the mission statement and reviewing the status of the 501 c 3 application. So stay tuned!

Community Partners

We have so many possible community partners within the Thames River Heritage Park. It’s the job of the team to make sure they have all the information they can get about the Yale Study that helped establish and define the Park and its goals, and see if we can coordinate with all of them to find out what they’d like to see in terms of collaborative events for next year. One of the objectives of the establishment of this new kind of park is to expose the public (that’s you) to all the historic and cultural spaces within its borderless borders.

The New London Maritime Association celebrated its newest lighthouse acquisition this month with many events--and a great cake! — *The New London Maritime Association celebrated its newest lighthouse acquisition this month with many events–and a great cake!*

Here’s a starter list of just some of those organizations, parks and museums. They are all fascinating, accessible, and within short distances of each other on both sides of the Thames River. As the team continues to solidify the new 501 c 3 entity, why not spend these remaining Fall weekends (and the weekends after that) exploring some or all of these cool places?

The New London Maritime Society/Custom House Maritime Museum, New London
Fort Griswold, Groton
The USS Nautilus Museum, Groton
The Hempstead Houses, New London
The New London County Historical Society/Shaw Mansion, New London
The Avery Copp House, Groton
The Ebenezer Avery House at Fort Griswold, Groton
The Nathan Hale Schoolhouse, New London
The United States Coast Guard Academy, New London
The Lyman Allen Museum of Art, New London
Fort Trumbull, New London
The Old Town Mill, New London

And while you’re at it, be sure to visit Connecticut Explored, a quarterly online and print copy magazine of Connecticut History, preservation, and activities/events all around the state. Hopefully, you’ll be reading about the Thames River Heritage Park in an upcoming issue!

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