West Haven unveils restored piece of shoreline called Eco Park
The city of West Haven cleaned up a stretch of its shoreline as part of a project aimed at educating beach visitors about wildlife and climate change.
A ribbon-cutting for Eco Park was held on Tuesday evening. It is 1.5 acres of restored shoreline that the city and the Land Trust of West Haven have been working on for five years.
The area was hit by a major storm a few years ago, causing trees to fall onto the boardwalk. Mayor Dorinda Borer said that was the catalyst to do something to address the area that was overgrown with vegetation. Crews cleaned up the land, removed all non-native invasive plants, and replanted with wildflowers, trees, and shrubs.
“What you see here today is just the beginning,” Marilyn Wilkes, Land Trust of West Haven president, said. “Eco Park will deliver a stunning vista in the coming months and years.”
Borer secured state funding for the project when she was a state representative. That money paid for the 16,000 plants that are now in the ground.
“This is a living coastline,” Borer explained.
Along the boardwalk, there are signs explaining what this land is used for and why caring for it matters. One sign explains what climate change is and its impacts. City leaders hope people take the time to read them.
“We have issues with erosion, storms constantly, and despite that, there isn’t a tremendous amount of public awareness as to how that occurs,” Mark Paine, West Haven Parks and Recreation director, said.
Some plants are just starting to sprout, and it’ll take about two years for them to be full-grown.
The revitalization of the entire shoreline is something the city has been working on for years.
By the end of the summer, the empty Savin Rock conference center is set to become the Kelsey, a restaurant and event venue. Apartments are set to replace the Debonair Beach Motel, and the restaurant Riva will be welcoming patrons for a second summer.
This project is the latest addition to what the mayor calls their greatest asset.
“We are now complementing our beautiful city jewel by creating a space that not only enhances and beautifies our coast but also protects it and makes it accessible to residents, to learn and to enjoy,” Borer said.
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