2019-2021 Biennial Report

BIENNIAL REPORT

July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2021 Connecting people and nature

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Dear Friends of Mill River Park, You never know how precious something is until you lose it. That’s how I have felt for the last 18 months or so as COVID-19 took over our lives and a lot of our freedoms. At the same time, we have also come to appreciate more than ever what we can count on.

During this pandemic era, the people of Stamford came to fully realize what they could count on, indeed rely on­—Mill River Park.

When you felt so confined and pent up that you could barely breathe, you could still take a stroll or a jog in Mill River Park. The fresh air, the sounds of the river, and the sight of a cherry blossom could revive us and recharge us for another round of confinement. Mill River Park broke all its old records for attendance. We were there for you and brought new resonance to our motto: Connecting People and Nature.

We were there for front-line workers as well. We turned the Carousel Pavilion into a day care center for some Stamford Hospital workers’ children. When 2

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we could, we restarted our outdoor exercise classes so that the community could get outside and exercise.

All in all, we were there for you.

As we prayerfully come out of this trying time in our lives, Mill River Park Collaborative isn’t standing still.

Our Middle Corridor project (east of the river between Tresser Boulevard and Richmond Hill Avenue) is well on its way to completion with new trails, trees, and horseshoe pits. In 2022, the Greenway will go north from Broad Street to Scalzi Park. It’s all part of our vision to create a 3-mile greenway from Scalzi to Stamford Harbor.

With luck we’ll see the creation of a new pedestrian bridge connecting Main Street in downtown with the west side. Most significantly, the Whittingham Discovery Center will open next summer with state-of the-art environmental classrooms and exhibits, a café and outdoor dining patio, and a rooftop terrace with sweeping views of the Park. It is tragic that Andrew and Michael Whittingham, the brothers whose vision and extraordinary generosity inspired the construction of the Center, did not live to see their vision realized.

Both passed away in the last 18 months.

Very sadly, last May I added the title of acting CEO to my Chairman role with the untimely and tragic passing of CEO Dudley Williams. Dudley was an inspirational leader whose love of education guided the Collaborative to even more focus on educational programs for the city’s children, especially underserved children. Dudley’s infectious good humor and huge laugh kept our staff motivated, and his memory has pushed all of us to do better; to be better.

I will very gladly be giving up my acting CEO title to Nette Compton, who will join us on January 3, 2022.

Nette is a landscape architect by training and comes to us from the Trust for Public Land where she was most recently head of strategic planning. I am excited to have Nette join the team, and I anticipate she will lead us to an even higher level of programming and service to the community.

Thank you.

Arthur Selkowitz, Chairman Connecting people and nature

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Connecting people and nature Community programs While some things looked a bit different during COVID-19, Mill River Park still provided opportunities for the community to gather, exercise, connect with nature, relax, celebrate, learn, and have fun! The Park continued to flourish, while expanding infrastructure to engage the community and connect visitors with nature. The Collaborative organized fun, educational, and safe events throughout 2019 and 2020!

Collaborative sponsored events Outdoor summer fitness programs Mill River Park Collaborative provides a scenic escape for all Stamford residents to exercise while connecting with nature. Our free summer Fit Club programs typically run from mid-May through mid-September.

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Cornhole Our diverse classes provide an opportunity for all fitness levels to move with fellow community members in the open space of the Park. Classes include: Rhythmic Yoga with Live Drumming, BollyFit, Zumba, Senior Gold Fitness, World of Dance, Sunrise Yoga and more. In 2019, we were proud to offer five classes per week, serving 2,320 fit seekers.

Although some classes made adjustments in 2020, we continued to offer safe summer Fit Club programs in 2020, adhering to all state and city COVID-19 protocols. Our unique outdoor venue became a vital outlet for many to safely de-stress during the pandemic. We even added one additional class per week, hosting six classes per week, serving 3,441 park fitness participants. All Fit Club classes are FREE and open to the public.

Every spring and fall, Stamford residents look forward to competing for the title of Mill River Park’s ultimate cornhole champions! This highly popular adult league meets weekly to unwind with some friendly competition in the Park. In 2019, we hosted 20 teams over six weeks. Because of the need to physically distance due to COVID-19, we were not able to hold the league in 2020.

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Halloween Halloween is one of our favorite times in the Park.

The occasion brings together many Stamford-area families of all ages. In 2019, we hosted about 2,000 children for our annual Spooktacular party, which included dozens of activities like pick-your-own pumpkin patch in the meadows, free games, a bounce amusement zone, and creepy crafts.

In 2020, we provided the community with an opportunity to safely celebrate Halloween by creatively pivoting to a socially distanced Halloween Scavenger Hunt! Families visiting the Park could download a scavenger hunt app to complete fun tasks and earn treats. We are proud that Mill River Park’s Halloween traditions remained as a constant part of the Stamford community. Even during the pandemic, the Park provided Halloween fun for close to 500 children.

“Of course I love the native plants, but they also have great programming for kids.”

— Karen R. (via Facebook)

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Winter fun at Mill River Park Every November, Mill River Park kicks off the holiday season by welcoming the community to the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Skating Center! Opened in 2018, the ice rink features 9,000 square feet of ice dedicated to recreational skating. 2019 was a stellar season, as the rink hosted 12,272 guests between November and mid-February. In 2020, we redesigned the rink for a safer experience by limiting capacity and enforcing face mask usage. Unfortunately, the rink had a very short season due to a state-mandated pandemic closure. In our abbreviated three-week season, we hosted 2,520 happy skaters.

“Awesome for the Stamford area....

Great activities to meet new people and stay healthy.” — Val J. (via Facebook)

On December 6, 2019, we held the inaugural lighting of our 20-foot tree at the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Skating Center. The event also included a performance by two local figure skaters: 10-year-old, 2020 New England Regional medalist and 2020 Juvenile Eastern Sectional competitor, Lillian Valiquette, and 8-year-old, 2020 New England Regional competitor, Victoria Valiquette.

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Throughout December 2019 and into 2020, hundreds of visitors delighted in Mill River Park’s horse and carriage rides, in partnership with Allegra Farm.

New Year: Skating with UConn and lessons We continued the time-honored ice skating tradition in 2019, hosting visitors of all ages and skill levels. The rink welcomed many area skaters, including many University of Connecticut–Stamford students. We also hosted several lessons for community members.

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In December 2019, Mill River Park Collaborative partnered with Half Full Brewery to bring a Winter Beer Garden to the Park. The event ran every Friday to Sunday throughout the month of December and included highlights such as a holiday movie marathon, a silent disco party, and ice sculptures.

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Community partnership events Mill River Park’s Karp Family Great Lawn is a popular destination for large community events. Each year the Collaborative partners with community organizations to host events for all ages.

Hey Stamford!

In the Summer of 2019, Mill River Park Collaborative hosted the 3rd Annual Hey Stamford! Food Festival.

Celebrating food, culture and community over two days, the Hey Stamford! Food Festival featured almost 50 of the area’s most delectable food trucks and vendors. The Blind Rhino Beer Garden served up cold craft beers and specialty drinks, plus provided a full main-stage concert experience. The event was, once again, a huge success, drawing over 10,000 attendees.

Due to COVID-19, this event was not held in 2020.

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“Mill River Park is an awesome addition to the city of Stamford!! Beautiful park setting with fun events for all ages.

Concerts, cornhole league and activities for kids and much more. Thank you and keep it coming!!” — Beth D. (via Facebook)

Country Rocks the Park Mill River Park hosted Country Rocks the Park, a live music festival weekend. The two-day, all ages, country music event featured live performances on the Stamford Ford Lincoln Mainstage by Granger Smith featuring Earl Dibbles Jr., Willie Jones, Seaforth, and more. Regional performance highlights included Houston Bernard Band and Jump The Gunn. The event also included over 20 of Stamford’s best BBQ restaurants, food trucks, and craft beer vendors.

Due to COVID-19, this event was not held in 2020.

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Brownstein Selkowitz Carousel Pavilion: Fun for all ages The Brownstein | Selkowitz Carousel Pavilion has become a highly sought-after spot for celebration in the Stamford community. From toddlers to seniors, we’ve hosted parties and fun for all ages.

During the pandemic, we hosted a weekly Carousel Story Time (via Zoom), with sing-a-longs and dances to preschool children’s favorite tunes. Once pandemic rules began to lessen and gatherings were allowed, the Carousel Pavilion became a popular destination for corporate and social gatherings.

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Thanks to our volunteers Our dedicated volunteers help keep Mill River Park safe, clean, and beautiful. Our volunteers include corporate partners, community members, and civic groups dedicated to the Park and our community. Volunteers learn the significance of each project and leave with a sense of purpose for not only helping the environment, but also for being an integral part of shaping the larger, ongoing conservation management of the Park.

2019 22 GROUPS 1,105 VOLUNTEERS 5,642 HOURS

2020 13 GROUPS 338 VOLUNTEERS 1,078 HOURS

Some of our major volunteer projects have included: invasive plant species removal; garden plantings; weeding gardens, paths, and other hardscapes; playground washing; litter cleanup; sapling tree removal; lawn care; meadow plant transplanting; riverbank stabilization; riverbank debris removal; and more. In fiscal year 2019, we hosted 22 volunteer groups, providing 5,642 hours of service by 1,105 individuals.

Despite the limitations of COVID-19 in fiscal year 2020, our volunteers came out to aid the Park: 13 groups, encompassing 338 individuals, provided 1,078 hours of service.

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Volunteer groups

Indeed

Ernst & Young

FY19 Volunteer groups

Sacred Heart Med Students

Community Day

Solebury Trout

UConn Service Club

Marriott

UBS

UBS (via Jersey Cares) YMCA Campers Diageo AIFS Stantec

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KPMG Interns Morgan Stanley Deloitte

Ernst & Young

FY20 Volunteer groups

UConn Freshman

Deloitte

Allergan

Grant Thornton

Castleton Commodities International

YMCA Middle School

Synchrony Financial

UBS (via Jersey Cares)

UConn Service Club

Greenwich Apple Store

KPMG

Robert Half

Apple

DWR

XL Catlin

Henkel

Viacom

UConn Freshman

“We don’t inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”

— Native American proverb

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that one of the most important things the Park has to offer is the park itself. Many people found themselves growing restless at home, stuck behind virtual offices and schools, or emotionally and physically exhausted from serving on the front lines. The Park became a place of respite for the community and it experienced a marked—and welcomed—increase in foot traffic throughout the pandemic. We are thrilled to provide a space for friends and neighbors to safely congregate, as well as alcoves of natural beauty for individuals to escape and relax. We were reminded once again of the significant role Mill River Park plays as an urban greenspace for Stamford and the surrounding areas.

COVID-19 community programs In March of 2020, Mill River Park—along with much of the world—entered a shelter-in-place order due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the Park never closed, this meant that some of our public programs came to an immediate halt, as we reconsidered how to safely serve our community during an uncertain time. We were able to meet some immediate needs like child care and food distribution, however we soon learned 24

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“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”

— John Burroughs

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converted the Brownstein I Selkowitz Carousel Pavilion into an emergency child care facility for essential workers, from healthcare workers to hospital cleaning staff to pharmacy workers, providing full day child care services for elementary school-aged children.

To slow the spread of COVID-19, Governor Lamont closed all Connecticut schools in March 2020. Local agencies like child care facilities, libraries, youth centers, and other regional programs also closed or significantly reduced their services. These widespread, necessary closures left essential workers scrambling to find child care so they could continue to go to the jobs that kept our community functioning and safe. In response to this urgent need, Mill River Park partnered with the State of Connecticut, Stamford Hospital, and Dalio Philanthropies’ Project 26 Initiative to launch an emergency child care program. Mill River Park quickly 26

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Additionally, Mill River Park launched an emergency food program during COVID-19 to feed families struggling to fill the weekend food gap. With schools closed, many children lost their subsidized breakfast and lunch. During the early onset of the COVID-19 crisis, Mill River Park distributed “lunch and learning” packs to low-income community members to help keep kids’ bellies full while providing engaging family learning materials. In partnership with the Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, we were able to fill the weekend food gap for 310 area residents.

“Great place to relax any time or day of the week.”

— Jason J. (via Facebook)

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Connecting Stamford-area youth with nature

“Walks in nature can improve cognitive brain function.”

— USDA

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Our environmental education programs offer direct experiences with nature that classroom learning cannot provide. Experiential learning is at the core of our programs, as we strive to uniquely engage Stamford youth, setting them up for a lifetime of environmental stewardship and an appreciation for their local community. We evaluate our programs to ensure that students reach certain benchmarks for each program and that programs reach students who are historically excluded from environmental enrichment.

environmental science in their own neighborhood. In 2020, we pivoted to a virtual platform and delivered an adapted version of the fourth grade enrichment program. We held the program via Zoom for 15 classes from 4 different schools, which were very highly received by students and teachers.

Fourth Grade Program In 2019, the Collaborative’s Fourth Grade Program offered science enrichment to six elementary schools in the Stamford district. The program was a threepart enrichment program that reached over 600 fourth grade students, exposing them to hands-on 29

to introduce Henkel Researchers’ World in the region. Researchers’ World is a global out-of-school educational initiative designed by Henkel to introduce children, ages 8–10, to the fascinating world of science. Using scientific methods, critical testing, analysis, and data interpretation and creativity, children gain insight into the wonders of science.

Since its inauguration in April 2011, Researchers’ World has served more than 62,000 children around the world.

The Collaborative successfully adapted Researchers’ World lessons to provide an engaging and educational experience using the natural resources found in the Park.

Henkel Researchers’ World at Mill River Park In the fall of 2020, Mill River Park Collaborative had the exciting opportunity to partner with Henkel Corporation to launch Henkel Researchers’ World in North America.

Henkel, a leading global consumer goods company with its North American Consumer Goods Headquarters in downtown Stamford, worked with the Collaborative

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Due to COVID-19, this pilot program consisted of a hybrid in-person and at-home STEM education curriculum for Stamford students. Eventually, we pivoted the program to be fully remote, for a total of seven student lessons.

Approximately 30 students participated in Researchers’ World from November to December in 2020. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Henkel and expanding this exciting program in 2021!

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Stewards The Mill River Stewards High School Internship Program introduces Stamford high school students to careers in environmental conservation and stewardship, and provides them with the “soft skills” necessary to successfully navigate work environments.

The Stewards program is a paid internship for Stamford teens with a focus on increasing Stewards’ environmental literacy and awareness. The Stewards engage in projects, enriching field trips, and careerreadiness workshops during their internship.

Since its launch in December 2010, the Mill River Stewards Program has served more than 100 teens between the ages of 15 and 18. In 2019, the Stewards Program served 10. Despite the COVID-19 crisis, the 2020 Mill River Park Stewards High School Internship Program was highly successful, hosting 12 students.

Highlights include delivering our typical summer curriculum—environmental education, career skills workshops, and lots of conservation work in the field.

In 2020, students went hiking at Hook Mountain in Rockland, New York, and attended the reopening of the New York Botanical Garden. The most significant undertaking this summer was fundraising for the Food 32

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Forest project. Using the Sustainable CT platform, Stewards raised almost $8,000 in donations, which was then matched to bring the total over $15,000.

Although we’ve had to make some adjustments to the program to account for everyone’s safety, the Stewards Program remains an important outreach to high school students.

One of the most important goals of the Stewards Program is for Stewards to have an increased awareness of their surroundings and the role greenspace plays in cities, as well as an understanding Connecting people and nature

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of climate change, over-consumption, resiliency, sustainability, and environmental conservation.

We also ensure that Stewards have the skills and information necessary to pursue future job, internship opportunities, and environmental training at the collegiate level. Through career readiness workshops, Stewards refine resume and cover letter writing skills, and conduct mock interviews to practice real world skills and assess their performance.

“Nature makes you more creative.

Experiencing the wonder of nature can inspire people to solve problems more cooperatively and creatively.”

— National Park Service

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In 2019, we hosted a total of 146 children during Vacation Camps and 39 unique campers during Summer Camp. Thanks to generous donors, we were able to provide financial assistance to 23% of our campers. In 2020, we hosted a total of 23 children during Vacation Camps and 27 unique campers during the summer. One third of campers received financial aid in fiscal year 2020. Mill River Park Collaborative is committed to ensuring that all Stamford children have access to the highquality programming at Mill River Summer and Vacation Camps.

Summer and Vacation Camps Mill River Vacation and Summer Camps are the only camps that blend traditional camp activities with environmental education and recreation in the heart of Stamford. Our highly popular Vacation Camp offers children full-day camp when school is out of session, all year long. Our Summer Camp, which launched in 2019, focuses on urban environmental education during the summer months. Our camps incorporate adventure, arts, recreation, stewardship, cultural & diversity awareness, teamwork, and most of all fun!

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Using lessons learned from our inaugural year, the Collaborative aims to see a 10% growth in our Summer Camp attendance. The Collaborative intends to maintain its commitment to provide financial assistance for those who need it.

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Tribute to Dudley N. Williams Jr. In May 2021, we lost Dudley Williams Jr., the President and CEO of the Park from August 2017 until his very untimely death.

An extraordinarily successful businessman and community leader, Dudley first connected with Mill River Park in the early days of the Park’s development.

As Director of Corporate Citizenship & Diversity at GE Asset Management, Dudley was highly instrumental in persuading the corporate leaders of that company to support the Park when it was just a vision in the eyes of a few community and city government individuals.

He led GE to make the largest corporate gift to Mill River Park in its history. The Grand Steps were named in GE’s honor as a result.

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Later, as a member of Stamford’s Board of Finance, Dudley was a consistent cheerleader for the Park’s development and the city’s support of it. Dudley was a steadfast advocate of the Park.

In 2017, Dudley accepted the call of duty when he agreed to become CEO of the Park after his retirement from GE. From that perch, Dudley nourished staff development and brought new focus to that part of the Park’s mission that uses the Park as a catalyst for greater environmental awareness and education among the young. For all these reasons and just for the wonderful smile and big laughter he brought to work every day, he will be sorely missed.

“There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness, that can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and its charm.”

— Theodore Roosevelt

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Tribute to Andrew and Michael Whittingham Sadly, in 2020 both Whittingham brothers, Michael and then Andrew, passed away.

Andrew and Michael Whittingham were already leading philanthropists in the fields of healthcare and the arts when they became acquainted with Mill River Park. Their interest in the Park stemmed initially from Michael’s goal of improving educational opportunities for under-served children. He saw the Park as a vehicle for experiential learning, which he knew was a particularly effective way to get children involved in learning. He admired the Collaborative’s school program that brought kids into the Park to learn science and raise environmental awareness.

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He served on the Board of the Collaborative from March 2016 until his passing. Andrew quickly signed on to the Collaborative’s mission as well, as they both felt that the Park’s proximity to the west side would significantly benefit that under-served community.

Their commitment translated into the Whittingham Discovery Center, now under construction in the Park, which will be a focus of environmental awareness and education. Very sadly, Andrew and Michael will not be with us when the Whittingham Discovery Center opens in late summer, 2022, but their vision and demonstrated support will enrich the lives of Stamford’s school children for generations to come.

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Mill River Park continues to grow to serve the community We are proud to share that the Whittingham Discovery Center is in active construction and is anticipated to open in the summer of 2022. It is a state-of-the-art building on the east side of the Park, committed to environmental education and fun! With close to 11,000 square feet, the Discovery Center will be a hub of free recreational and environmental educational opportunities in Stamford. Its construction will add to the activation of the Park, with year-round programs and services.

The Discovery Center will be the largest building in the Park and will serve as the hub for operations, recreational and educational programs, and public services. The Discovery Center will house an amphitheater; an environmental exhibition space, complete with fish and other living park wonders; three Urban Ecology Classrooms (UEC); a café; a rooftop garden observation deck; and outdoor patios and sitting areas.

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The Discovery Center will also feature an Environmental Learning Lab that will serve as a designated space for adults and children alike to engage in hands-on environmental studies.

The Environmental Learning Lab will contain equipment and resources for: •

Water and soil testing

•

ippowam River ecology and terrestrial R listening station

•

Analysis of mapping and remote sensing data

•

ocal bird identification by sight and sound L and plant identification and analysis

In addition, strategically placed Environmental Monitoring Stations will afford students the chance to assess the ecology of the area, document any environmental changes, and take samples—which can be further evaluated and studied in the Discovery Center. The findings from the Stations will inform a deeper understanding of the Rippowam River watershed ecology and provide a unique and innovative learning experience for Stamford residents.

We expect that the Whittingham Discovery Center will be fully open in the summer of 2022.

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Playground renovation We had planned to demolish the playground originally constructed in 2006 by a team of volunteers and rebuild a new playground and splash pad in 2020.

Because of the pandemic, we were forced to put our grand plans on hold for a bit. During that time, we’ve listened to input from the community, and our new plans consist of more swings, greater activities for toddlers, an extraordinary art deco climbing tree, and more. We are now back on track and expect to be totally renovated and ready for play in time for summer 2022!

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What’s next

“Access to parks is a social equalizer, addressing health disparities and benefiting people’s health and well-being.”

— National Park Service

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Mill River Square

Dog Park

Planning is beginning for the creation of Mill River Square, a public gathering spot along Washington Boulevard that is sure to become Stamford’s town square. The site, often referred to as Archstone, was temporarily set up a few years ago as the Mill River Park Back Porch, complete with bocce court, garden seating, and a picnic area. Long-term plans for this site include a permanent location for performances and other large events as well as a new formal entrance to the Park on Washington Avenue.

In 2018, with the help of a generous corporate donor, we created the temporary Mill River Dog Park along Washington Boulevard. It only took hours for this to become one of the Park’s most popular features. We are now exploring locations for a permanent, larger, and more expansive dog park. We will ensure this world-class dog park is worthy of Stamford-area canines, by providing a large area to run, designated sections for large and small dogs, as well as benches and shade for dogs and their human friends.

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Middle Corridor West The Middle Corridor of Mill River Park is part of our Phase II expansion. It stretches from Tresser Boulevard to Richmond Hill Avenue, and it is divided by the river into an east and west section. Construction is currently underway for the west section of the Middle Corridor, which is scheduled to open in the spring of 2022. This project is partially funded through a grant with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the City of Stamford and a generous private donor.

In the very near future, there will be walking paths; thousands of new native perennials, shrubs and trees; benches; and horseshoe pits.

The Middle Corridor is an important next step in our efforts to extend Mill River Park south to Long Island Sound.

Ways you can help As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we rely on our donors to maintain, program, and build the Park. There are many ways to support the Park:

Make a piece of the Park yours.

Consider a naming opportunity by making a piece of the Park yours. You will be leaving a living legacy to the community.

Become a member.

By becoming a Collaborative member, you can help preserve this vital community resource and natural ecosystem in the heart of Stamford. Plus, join other dedicated supporters for exclusive members-only events.

Make the Park part of your estate planning.

Ensure your impact by including Mill River Park Collaborative in your planned giving. Options include making a bequest to the Park, and naming the Park on your life insurance policy or charitable trust. Tax advantages associated with each option vary, so we recommend you consult with your tax advisor prior to making a giving plan.​

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2013

2022

More growth. More Park.

2022

As we look toward the future, the Greenway will continue north from Broad Street to Scalzi Park and south to the Harbor. It’s all part of our vision to create a 3-mile greenway from Scalzi Park to Stamford Harbor.

creation of the 2006 | The Mill River Park Playground restoration 2009 | The of Mill River The creation of 12 acres

2013 | of beautiful landscape in the heart of Stamford

2009

Brownstein | Selkowitz 2017 | The Carousel Pavilion Steven & Alexandra Cohen 2018 | The Skating Center and Fountain opening of 2022 | Projected Whittingham Discovery Center

E N

2006 2018

2022

opening of 2022 | Projected Middle Corridor West

S

re-opening of the 2022 | Projected Mill River Park Playground

W

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Mill River Park’s 2020 financials Corporate & Foundation Sponsorship 18.5%

Fee-for-Programming/Service

Fundraising Events

9.3%

TOTAL REVENUE $2,407,286

8.3%

8.3%

Individual Donations

Fiscal year 2020 operating revenue City of Stamford Operations Grant Operations Tax Incremental Funding Total City of Stamford Investment Income Individual Donations Fundraising Events Fee-for-Programming/Service Corporate and Foundation Sponsorship TOTAL REVENUE

Fiscal year 2020 operating expenses $662,000 $675,000 $1,337,000 $637 $199,800 $200,743 $222,966 $446,140

Administration Fundraising Program Expenditure

$244,877 $177,965 $2,063,899

TOTAL EXPENSES

$2,486,741

9.8%

TOTAL EXPENSES $2,486,741

7.2%

City of Stamford

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Fundraising

$2,407,286 83%

Investment Income

Administration

Program Expenditure

<.5% 55.5%

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Mill River Park’s 2021 financials Fiscal year 2021 operating revenue

Corporate & Foundation Sponsorship 14.9%

12.5%

Paycheck Forgiveness Loan*

Fee-for-Programming/Service

Fundraising Events Investment Income Individual Donations City of Stamford

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TOTAL REVENUE $2,249,730

5.2%

7.5% <.5%

City of Stamford Operations Grant Operations Tax Incremental Funding Total City of Stamford Investment Income Individual Donations Fundraising Events Fee-for-Programming/Service Paycheck Forgiveness Loan Corporate and Foundation Sponsorship TOTAL REVENUE

9.4%

Fiscal year 2021 operating expenses $562,000 $570,449 $1,132,449 $648 $212,533 $169,805 $118,082 $280,600 $335,613

Administration Fundraising Program Expenditure

$235,219 $177,898 $1,869,427

TOTAL EXPENSES

$2,282,544

TOTAL EXPENSES $2,282,544

10.3%

Administration

7.8%

Fundraising

$2,249,730 81.9%

Program Expenditure

50.3%

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A special thank you to Steven Osman

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Steven Osman, a founding member of the Mill River Park Collaborative, retired from the Board of Directors in September. As Chairman of the city’s Urban Redevelopment Commission, Steve was a key figure in establishing the legal structure that set up the Mill River Corridor Plan, the guiding vision for what has become Mill River Park. He was one of the first members of a task force that became the precursor for the Collaborative and became a member of its Board of Directors when the Collaborative was officially established in 2003.

He was honored by the Collaborative at its annual gala in 2014. Steve and his wife Harley are generous supporters of Mill River Park, especially of the annual children’s Halloween parade, and the south patio of the Whittingham Discovery Center is being named in their honor. Arthur Selkowitz, Collaborative Chairman, said: “Steve has been an indispensable counsel through all of the Park’s life, and one of its biggest boosters. I will miss him on the Board but know I can always count on him for his advice and support and Harley’s as well.”

“Land really is the best art.”

— Andy Warhol

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Mill River Park Collaborative supporters Legacy Grove

Cherry Blossom Society

Special thanks to the donors who have given or pledged over one million dollars in the Collaborative’s history

Special thanks to the donors who have given or pledged $225,000 to $750,000 in the Collaborative’s history.

Don & Lisa Brownstein City of Stamford Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation General Electric (GE) National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Selkowitz Family Foundation

Marilyn Clements Fairfield County’s Community Foundation

The Overbrook Foundation Robin & Julie Graham Robert & Patricia Phillips

$99,999 to $50,000 First County Bank Dean & Laura Godown The Rich Family Foundation Selkowitz Family Foundation

$750,000 to $100,000

Purdue Pharma, Inc.

$49,999 to $25,000

Charter Communications City of Stamford

Dean & Laura Godown

Reckson, A Division of SL Green

Across the Globe Children’s Foundation Fund

Marilyn Clements

Diageo North America, Inc.

Karp Family Foundation

The Rich Family Foundation

The Stamford Partnership, Inc.

Vince & Linda McMahon Family Foundation, Inc.

Charles & Deborah Royce

John & Paula Todd

The Edith & Herbert Lehman Foundation

First County Bank Foundation, Inc.

The Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation, Inc.

State of Connecticut John & Paula Todd

David & Miriam Nissen

Structured Portfolio Management

Andrew Whittingham & family

Stephen & Harley Osman

Thomson Reuters

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We want to acknowledge and thank all of our generous Park supporters who gave from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2021.

Brownstein Family Foundation

Nestlé Waters North America, Inc.

Michael Whittingham & family

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Charitable contributions

UBS

The Whittingham Family Foundation

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation First County Bank Foundation, Inc.

George & Patricia Sarner

Grant Street Foundation

Stamford URBY Stamford Building 1 LLC

Half Full Brewery

Velaj Foundation

Peter & Isabel Malkin

$24,999 to $10,000

NBC Sports Group Pitney Bowes, Inc.

Richard & Cynthia Blumenthal

Carl Shanahan

Boehm Family Foundation

Stamford Hospital Foundation

Don & Lisa Brownstein

Stamford Rotary Club

Carmody, Torrance, Sandak & Hennessey

Trafigura Trading, LLC

Castleton Commodities International

David & Patricia Watkins

Thomas Tryforos

ConnectiCare, Inc.

Wofsey, Rosen, Kweskin & Kuriansky, LLP

Harry Day

Fabrizio & Barbara Zichichi

The Day Family Foundation

Douglas & Sharon Karp

General Reinsurance Corporation

Robert Phillips

Frank & Lori Mercede

Accurate Lock and Hardware

Henkel Corporation Harley & Stephen Osman

Horizon Foundation, Inc.

Robin & Julie Graham

Connecting people and nature 59

$9,999 to $5,000

$4,999 to $1,000

Gigi Aron

Stephne & Kerrin Behrend

Claire L. Helsing Foundation

Bills Refrigeration

Mimi Cohen

Bloomberg

Jamie Delaney

Kara & Bill Bohnsack

Lizanne Galbreath

George Boyce

Grade A ShopRite

Building and Land Technology

Stephen & Dale Hoffman

Brooke Call

Lapine Company Thomas & Elizabeth Mantione

Stewart Casper & Victoria DeToledo

Vince & Linda McMahon

CBRE, Inc.

Jack & Jill of America

NBC Universal

Centerbrook Architects and Planners

Elliot & Roslyn Jaffe

Irwin &Arlene Ettinger Jay & Esta Feinsod

Nestlé Waters North America Inc.

Edward & Donna Fuhrman

Newman’s Own Foundation

Sandy & Robert Goldstein

Shelly Nichani

Bob & Mary Granata

Alan & Lynn Pearce

Leonard & Judith Haber

Pooja Hospitality LLC; DBA Super 8 Stamford

Celeste Hart Bill & Jevera Hennessey David Hoffman Glen & Lynn Lurato

Prior Family Foundation Risa & Steven Raich Claire Redniss Ray Redniss Tom Rich

Stephen & Lynn Cohen Jeffrey & Marty Cokin

Peter & Betsy Kempner

Inny Roven

Dianne & Robert Colgan

David & Jessica Kooris

Robert & Deborah Salomon

Craver Family Fund

Noah & Holly Lapine

Adam & Laurie Selkowitz

Susan Cullman

James & Ellen Levenson

Andrew & Andrea Shantz

Cummings & Lockwood, LLC

Christopher Linen

Marsha Shendell

Barbara Dalio

Norman & Nina Lotstein

Ian Shrank

Stamford Downtown Special Services District

Leonard D’Andrea

Lovesac

Mark & Heidi Silverstein

Ira & Gari Dansky

Diane Matt

Thomson Reuters

Harriet & Frederic Dulaney

Fatima & Amin Mawji

Stamford Automotive Partners, LLC dba Toyota of Stamford

UBS

Eastern Land Management

Joel & Ellen Mellis

Empire State Realty Trust

Montagno Construction

Adam Epstein

NAGI Jewelers

Purdue Pharma L.P. Charles & Deborah Royce Jed & Alana Selkowitz JJ Sendelbach James Shapiro The Simmons Family Foundation

60 millriverpark.org

Alexanda & Daniel Krauss

Synchrony Financial

Eric Lotstein

Bill & Lisa Tyson

William & Jill Lovers

Richard & Pam Vogel

Eleanor & Morton Lowenthal

The Whitmyer Family

Paul & Darlene McDowell

Terran & Michael Whittingham

Mark McGrath

Dudley Williams Jr. & Juanita James

Bart & Kate Osman

Paul Young

Barbara & Gordon Russell

The Rapoport Family

The James L. & Susan G. Winter Foundation

People’s United Bank

Elise Swanton

Christian Roth

Janice Steif & Terry Adams Judith Steinberg Louise Stern Kristen Stops

Henry & Linda Rubinstein Ryan Salvatore

$499 to $250 Stephen & Jane Alpert Jim Arata Avram & Rhoda Freedberg Fund Diane Bertrand Ellen Bromley & Tom Gizicki Michael & Maureen Cacace Ina Cameron-Winn Linda Chapman

Randie & Lawrence Katz Alice Knapp & Walt Young David & Lorraine Kweskin Martin & Andrea Levine Judith Liebeskind Stephen & Meena Lynch Mactivity Fitness LLC Stamford Harbor Point Jose Maldonado David Martin

Arthur & Betsey Selkowitz

The Cheryl Chase and Stuart Bear Family Foundation, Inc. c/o Chase Enterprises

Susan Benthall

Douglas Sharp

David Cohen

James Millar

Kathy Bloomfield

Noreen Shortway

David DeBenedictis

Lisa Musilli

Joe Cingari

Camille & Charles Spaulding

Tom Deloach

Jean Pack

David Cingari

Philip & Patricia Swan

Cody Dolly

Pathways, Inc.

David & Linda Cunn

Steven & Eileen Swerdlick

Susan Fisher

Marianne Pollak

Nicola & Denise Doria

Tauck Family Foundation

Frances & Gerry Ginsburg

Jerry & Michelle Pusser

Vagn & May Fausing

Scott & Tanya Therrien

Ronald & Anna Gold

Mary Lou Rinaldi

Avram & Rhoda Freedberg

Elliot & Emily Turner

Stephen Gramps

Mark Riser

Neal & Diane Warner

Catherine & Ivan Harper

Remi Rosenberg

Elizabeth & Wilson Williams

$999 to $500 Ronald & June Ahrens

David Genovese & Camilla Herrera

Brian & Monica Sciacca

Kay Maxwell Martin & Kathryn McGrath

Richard Harper

Bridget Ryan Berman

Joel & Bonnie Glasky

David & Eileen Heckerling

Peter & Andrea Scheyhing

Emily & Sam Gordon

Bruce Heller

Hill Family Fund

Robert & Barbara Karp

Jill Sendor-Laychak & Douglas Laychak

Kaye and Hennessey, LLC

Mitchell & Anne Katcher

Theodore Sergi

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Service Master of Westport

Guy Bailey & Kathy King

Peter & Gail Carriero

Edward & Ronnie Fein

Lindsay Jamison

Jennifer Matheny

Marianne Pollak

Stephen Sherman

Jami Sherwood

John Barnes

James & Violet Coats

Gregg Ferguson

Jeffrey & Sheila Katz

Carol Mawhinney

Michael Pollard

Howard & Carol Shiffman

Jerry & Bracha Silber

Eucaris and Norberto Barroso

Raiford Cockfield

Lee Anne Fernandez

John & Cecelia Keller

Mavra Mccann

James & Florine Popper

The Shippan Point Garden Club

Robin & Silvia Stein

Alexandra Belluzzi

Lester & Madeline Cohn

Matt Fleury

Karen Kelly

Terrence & Lucille McDonough

Dan Powers

Frederick & Carolyn Shulman

Turhan Tirana & Denise Marcil

Ellsworth & Joanne Benson

Salvatore & Linda Colucci

Madhu Ganapathy

Edith Khayatt

Jennifer McMonagle

Dan Puffer

Marjorie Shyavitz

Johnna Torsone & John McKeon

Steve Berni & Elaine Rubinson

Gary & Sue Conte

Michelle & Henry Gasiorowski

Bruce & Linda Koe

Elizabeth Mercede

Susan Putney

Henry & Meryl Silverstein

Mike & Kathryn Totilo

Carrie Bernier & Norwalk Community College

Thomas Conway & Madeline Weisberg

Leslie Gavin

Dan Kohn

Robert & Jean Meyer

Kerri Rak

Jim & Lynn Simpson

Gary Gepner & Susan Baldin

Roy & Gillian Korins

Kathryn Meyers

Richard & Claudia Recker

Andrew Sklover

T.T. & Anita Bhat

Laura Copeland

Robert & Nancy Gerry

KPMG, LLP

Eric Milkie

Skye Reiner

Cody Smith

Daniel Bilenko

Robert & Randy Costagliola

Joseph Giancola

Alex Krauss

Barbara Miller

Michael Rinaldi

James Sobieski

Catherine Bischoff

Suzanne Coyne

Mary Krayeske

Len & Catherine Miller

Janet Roemer

Sandy & Steve Soule

Mark & Charlotte Bishop

Harry & Jane Cuthbertson

The Girlfriends Inc Fairfield County Chapter

Ruth Kwartin

Philip Miller

Sheila Romanowitz

Speed Printing & Graphics, Inc.

John & Mary Kay Bittner

Gail Gleason

Nick & Rebecca Lai

Stanford Miller

Rosemary & Don Rullman

Eric & Laura Spichiger

Anna Bjorkman

The Daniel & Betty Roberts Family Foundation

Irving & Marilyn Goldblum

Joe DiVestea

David Langston

Stanley & Bette Mocarski

James & Michelle Sabia

Larry & Barbara Stein

Wendy Block

Edward & Susan Greenberg

Beverly Stein

Camille Guthrie

John Layseca

Tristan Mogollon & Friends of Zumba with Tristan Anthony

Michael & Sharon Sabia

Richard & Susan Blomberg

Bart Donahoe & Cathellen Donnelly

Gary & Sharon Larsen

Paul & Lizabeth Sachs

Elisabeth Steinberg

Edward & Barbara Guttman

Michael & Micki Lemieux

Joan Montello

Gunnar Sahlin

Judy & Carl Stewart

Barry Hersh

Lorraine Leonard

Patrice Moore

Ryan & Mary Salvatore

Matthew Stockel

Fiona Hodgson

Carol Levine

Bob & Polly Morrow

Everett & Sally Schenk

Marc & Caroline Teichman

Burton & Carol Hoffman

Wendy Lewis

Yogesh & Sushil Nehra

George Schott

Gillian Thompson

Gail & Richard Hofmann

Nancy Lewittes

Courtney & Judy Nelthropp

Nolan & Barbara Schwartz

Jessica & Briggs Tobin

Dianne & Malcolm Houtz

Carol Luders

Merritt & Roslyn Nesin

Zoe & Daniel Schwartz

Harold Todman

Bruce & Connie Hubbard

Hernando & Carolyn Madero

Patrick O’Keefe

Ann Seidel

Michael & Camille Tomasello

Bruce & Elizabeth Huffine

William Malloy

Craig & Suzanne Olin

Pamela Shadford

Rhaiza Torres

Annie Hughes

Gary Mansfield

Michael O’Rourke

Eugene & Frieda Shapiro

Thien Tran

Grace Markovits

Kurt & Susan Ostheimer

Elaine Sharlach

Stephen & Gail Trell

Christel Truglia Mirellise Vazquez Carl & Dana Weinberg David & Paula Weinstein Waleska Williams Jon Winkel Steven & Lisa Wise Carl Zuckerberg

$249 to $100 Tim & Mary Abbazia Stuart & Marilyn Adelberg Elvira Albert Merlin Alper Lorraine & Curt Anastasio Jacquelyn Anderson Mark & Jeri Appel Jonathan Bacco

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Nick Bochicchio Merle Bogin Gregory Bomash Kathleen Bordelon Lauren Boswell Sarah Boyle Mark & Carolyn Browning Sharon Broza-Stone Margitta Brunner Amy Carriello

Martin & Helen Donner Christelle Dorcil Felipe & Kathy Dossou Milton & Marion Drexler Marilyn Ducksworth-Davis Joseph & Bette Epstein Rosarii Falvey Donna & Jeffrey Farber Phil & Carolyn Farin Mary Fedeli

Nia & Tunde Jackson

Connecting people and nature 63

Melanie & David Turner Peter & Janet Vanderwaart Robert Vendig Nancy von Euler Mary Vos Robert & Pam Waldman Josh Warner Lloyd Weinstein Alicia & Bruce Wettenstein Andrew Whittingham Robert Wieser Gloria Wilson Erin Wilson Steve Wolfe Mary Woods John & Priscilla Woyke Elaine Wright Ari Yasgur Kimberly Zaccagnino Steve & Dorothy Zeide Mattias & Irinia Zhabinskiy Joan Zooper

64 millriverpark.org

Up to $99

Michael Cairl

Sarah Davidson

Sonia Gidwani

Vonick Jean-Guillaume

Prasad & Anika Kulkarni

Harvey & Arline Melzer

Jackie Pioli

Michael Caminiti

Alice Decossard

Rob & Jennifer Godzeno

Nicolas Jean-Guillaume

Jodi Kupersmith

Hunter Memale

Luke & Mary Jo Pittoni

Douglas Campbell

Ryan DeLuca

Natasha Gold

George & Karen Johns

Dorothy & Robert Landress

Ingrid Menendez

Juan Porro

Patrick Carino

Valerie DeVito

Wanda Gomez

Joseph Golia Services, Inc.

Peter & Flavia Lasalandra

Neil & Deborah Metviner

Vienna Prado

Peter Carriero

Arnold Diaz

Jessica Granda-Guevara

Paul & Susan Josephson

Cynthia Lashley

Margaret & Alan Metwally

Aksana Prakapenka

Dawnya Carson

Robert & Frances Dorf

Charles Guinta

Just Giving

Steven Lavietes

Benjamin Mickelson

Robert Prier

Christopher Carson

Pierre Douyon

Carlos Gutierrez

Karen Juul

Elizabeth Lebo

Joseph Miller

Matthew Quinones

Steven Carter

Yuliia Drebit

John Gwardyak

Andree Kaminsky

Leslie Lee

Oksana Mindin

Lalatiana Randretsanilo

Mary Cattan

Evan & Mary Ann Dunnell

Joanna Gwozdziowski

Isabel Katz

Sheldon & Gloria Levine

Joseph Moccia

Rim Raslan

Jack & Lynne Chnowski

Regino & Aurea Elgarico

Sviatlana Habis

Mark & Geraldine Katz

M. Catherine Lynch

Michael Moi

Pauline Rauh

Laurie Cingari

Michael Farewell

Lynn & Thomas Hamm

Joy & Larry Katz

Beverly Magida

Adriana Molina

Nicolas & Maria Reusche

Robert & Marsha Cohen

Michael Feighan

Stephen Hannis

Mark Kaufman

Joanna Maier

Blasina Molina

John Rhodes

Raquel Coliaza

Vito Ferrucci

Annelise Hansen

Sylvia Kaye

Ellen Malasky

Rashida Morisset

Kimberly & Robert Rogers

Dennis & M’Liss Conetta

Lewis & Laurie Finkel

Ingrid Haughton

Kevin Kelly

Johnnie & Shaun Malloy

Garry Morton

Patricia Romano

Joanne Conetta

Richard & Rosalea Fisher

Laurence Henry

PJ Kennedy

Howard & Barbara Malloy

Millary Morton

Allen & Sherri Rosenthal

Barbara Conetta

Amy Fishkow

Martin & Kathleen Heslin

Alena Kerins

Sheeree Mallozzi

Melissa Mulrooney

Anne Rosivach

Corti Cooper & Carlos Esteves

Penelope Fishman

Dana Hill

Ken & Harriette Ketover

Avery & Pamela Manchester

Rashmi Mysore Shivanna

Jordan Royster

Dennis Fleischmann

Michael Hoherchak

Sam Kies

Roselyn Mangot

Richard Olson

Emily Rudolph

Yessica Cortez

Jonathan Foster

Peter Hohmeister

Melanie Kieval

Jill Margolis

Juan Ospina

Eleanor & Patrick Ryan

Justin Cosell

James & Christie Fountain

Lena Howansky

Morton & Barbara Klein

Alon Marom

Michele Pacheco

Allan & Sally Sacks

MA Guadalupe Briones

Charles & Margaret Costello

Nancy Furnas

Jen Humphries

Mariana Kniffin

Ashley Martinez

Amy Pagnani

Heather & John Salerno

Robert Brown

Colleen Costello

David Jerome Gay

Nichole Hylton

Elizabeth Knudsen

Ari & Heidi Maunula

Carol & Stelios Paraskevas

Daisy Salort

Rohan Brown

Martine Curto

Lewis Gediman

Holly Hyman

John Kopko

Jodi Maxner

Bruce & Martha Patterson

Monika Samelko

Barrett Burns

Natalie Dademo

Audrey Iscaro

Anne-J Paul

Trent McCann

Alex Perimenis

Mary Lee Santoro & Dennis Palumbo

John Darosa

Stephen Jablonsky

Thomas Krempecki & Margaret Dahlem

Madison McCann

Lisa Buzin

Antoine & Christine Geffrard

Kate Jackson

Nicole Krize

Lisa McComb-Williams

Michelle Phillips

Jessica Saturne

Giuseppina Abbazia Julie Abbett Melissa Acevedo Shivani Agrawal Lee Allen Amazon Smile Melissa Arnold Linda and Joe Avellar Thomas Bartram John Bautista Myrna Baye Mary Bellavia James & Amy Benjamin Wendy Bennett Jennifer Bernardelli Eve & Daniel Block Walter & Marilyn Block Roberta Bosanko Cindy & Junau Boucard

Ghislaine Germain

Connecting people and nature 65

Gifts in kind

Mica Saturne

Joanny Vega

Frank & Lolita Savage

Audrey Velaj

Ann & David Scheps

Susana Vidan

New England Investment Partners

Lawrence & Ruth Schmidt

Dana Anne Visi

Shipman & Goodwin

Edward & Lois Scofield

Amy Vitale

Elise & Jerry Sehulster

Sara Jane von Trapp

Kimberly Senecal

Dianne Walker

Sarah Sherwood Carol Shwidock

Waterford Group Charitable Foundation

Steven & Ronnie Sichel

Lida Watson

Diane & Ted Sierpina

Nancy Webber

Keith & Claudia Silver

Barbara & Robert Wechsler

Jane Silverman

Aulene Wessel

Richard & Patti Slavin

David Wiesenfeld

Stephen Smegal

Dudley Williams III

Edward & Edith Smith

Phyllis Wilson

John & Judith Stoddard

Dorothy Wilson

Eric & Lisa Strom

Annbeth Winters

William Tague

Syma Wolf

Jenna Temple

Margot & Bill Zales

Shyvette Thompson

Karen & John Zambelli-Gwardyak

James & Gail Todd Sheila Toner Nikki Tsairis Ellen Tuckett

Garden volunteers Khaleel Alexander Laura Godown Eve Lapine Sondra Limeburner Vickie Ruehl

“Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own.”

— Charles Dickens

Lisa Tyson

Joanne Zammit Kenneth & Coralee Zarrilli Nate Zubal

Andrea & Marcella Valerio 66 millriverpark.org

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67

Mill River Park Collaborative members Architect ($1,000)

Patron ($100)

Susan Cullman

Merlin & Elaine Alper

Elliot & Roslyn Jaffe

Stephen & Jane Alpert

Robert & Patricia Phillips

Lorraine & Curt Anastasio

Arthur & Betsey Selkowitz

Mark & Jeri Appel

Paul Young

John Barnes Ellsworth & Joanne Benson

Designer ($500) David Hoffman Janice Stief & Terry Adams Elise Swanton

Steve Berni & Elaine Rubinson Mark & Charlotte Bishop Richard & Susan Blomberg Merle Bogin Ellen Bromley & Tom Gizicki

Steward ($250) Susan Benthall Edward & Donna Fuhrman Henry & Linda Rubinstein Jami Sherwood Scott & Tanya Therrien Mike & Kathryn Totilo 68 millriverpark.org

Mark & Carolyn Browning Michael & Maureen Cacace Peter & Gail Carriero Joe Cingari James & Violet Coats Jeffrey & Marty Cokin Dianne & Robert Colgan

Eugene & Frieda Shapiro

Dennis & M’Liss Conetta

Paul & Lizabeth Sachs

Sheldon & Gloria Levine

Marsha Shendell

Gary & Sue Conte

Monika Samelko

Howard & Barbara Malloy

Howard & Carol Shiffman

Justin Cosell

Jerry & Bracha Silber

Robert & Jean Meyer

Michael & Camille Tomasello

Arnold Diaz

Henry & Meryl Silverstein

Amy Pagnani

Johnna Torsone & John McKeon

Gregg Ferguson

Bruce & Martha Patterson

Christel Truglia

Vito Ferrucci

Mirellise Vazquez & Thomas Birmingham

Dennis Fleischmann

Audrey Velaj

Marianne Pollak Jerry & Michelle Pusser Anne Rosivach

Luke & Mary Jo Pittoni

Salvatore & Linda Colucci

James & Ellen Levenson

Robert Vendig

Robert & Randy Costagliola

Martin & Andrea Levine

Mary Vos

Rob & Jennifer Godzeno

David & Paula Weinstein

Martin & Helen Donner

Wendy Lewis

Robert & Pam Waldman

Wanda Gomez

Aulene Wessel

Christelle Dorcil

Judith Liebeskind

Neal & Diane Warner

Jessica Granda-Guevara

Felipe & Kathy Dossou

Norman & Nina Lotstein

Carl & Dana Weinberg

Edward & Barbara Guttman

Supporter ($50)

Marilyn Ducksworth-Davis

Carol Luders

Andrew Whittingham

Michael Hoherchak

Jim Arata

Elaine Sharlach

Joseph & Bette Epstein

Hernando & Carolyn Madero

Kimberly Zaccagnino

Nichole Hylton

James & Amy Benjamin

Marjorie Shyavitz

Rosarii Falvey

William Malloy

Steve & Dorothy Zeide

Vonick Jean-Guillaume

Eve & Daniel Block

Louise Stern

George & Karen Johns

Sarah Boyle

Marc & Caroline Teichman

Paul & Susan Josephson

Margitta Brunner

Peter & Janet Vanderwaart

Randie Katz & Lawrence Cryer

Ina Cameron-Winn

Karen Zambelli-Gwardyak

Sam Kies

Patrick Carino

Mariana Kniffin Prasad & Anika Kulkarni

Bart Donahoe & Cathleen Donnelly

Friend ($25)

Gary & Sharon Larsen

Joseph & Janice Giancola

Linda & Joe Avellar

Sheeree Mallozzi

Richard Harper

Myrna Baye

Elizabeth Mercede

Holly Hyman

Mary Bellavia

Oksana Mindin

John Keller & Cecelia Barnett

Walter & Marilyn Block

Nicholas & Maria Reusche

Ken & Harriette Ketover

Douglas Campbell

Allen & Sherri Rosenthal

Carol Levine

Peter Carriero

Michelle & Henry Gasiorowski

Kay Maxwell

Frances & Gerry Ginsburg

Kathryn Meyers

Family ($75)

Emily & Sam Gordon

Barbara Miller

Julie Abbett

Barry Hersh

Michael O’Rourke

Ronald & June Ahrens

Burton & Carol Hoffman

Kurt & Susan Ostheimer

Scott Arvoy

Bob & Barbara Karp

Susan Putney

Manolo Avila

Jeffrey & Sheila Katz

Richard Recker & Claudia Poccia

Eucaris & Norberto Barroso

Karen Kelly

Mary Lou Rinaldi

Cindy & Junau Boucard

Alice Knapp & Walt Young

Janet Roemer

Hsiao Chen

Alex Krauss

Sheila Romanowitz

Lester & Madeline Cohn

David & Lorraine Kweskin

George Schott

Raquel Coliaza

Michael & Micki Lemieux

Zoe & Daniel Schwartz

Michael & Sharon Sabia Ann Scheps & David Hoskins

Connecting people and nature 69

Jack & Lynne Chnowski

Dorothy & Robert Landress

Andrea & Marcella Valerio

Laurie Cingari

Leslie Lee

Phyllis Wilson

Robert & Marsha Cohen

Nancy Lewittes

Annbeth Winters

Barbara Conetta

Ellen Malasky

Syma Wolf

Charles & Margaret Costello

Roselyn Mangot

Kenneth & Coralee Zarrilli

Martine Curto

Carol Mawhinney

Harry & Jane Cuthbertson

Terrence & Lucille McDonough

Sarah Davidson

Harvey & Arline Melzer

Marion & Milton Drexler

Margaret & Alan Metwally

Across the Globe Children’s Foundation Fund

Harriet & Frederic Dulaney

Joseph Moccia

Boehm Family Foundation

Phil Farin & Carolyn Nadel-Farin

Richard Olson

Brownstein Family Foundation

Michael Feighan

Juan Porro

Claire L. Helsing Foundation

Nancy Furnas

Pauline Rauh

Day Family Foundation

David Jerome Gay

John Rhodes

Edith & Herbert Lehman Foundation

Lewis Gediman

Lawrence & Ruth Schmidt

Fairfield County’s Community Foundation

Antoine & Christine Geffrard

Edward & Lois Scofield

First County Bank Foundation, Inc.

Charles Guinta

Elise & Jerry Sehulster

Grant Street Foundation

Lynn & Thomas Hamm

Steven & Ronnie Sichel

Horizon Foundation, Inc.

Stephen Hannis

Keith & Claudia Silver

Rich Family Foundation

Martin & Kathleen Heslin

Jane Silverman

Selkowitz Family Foundation

Peter Hohmeister

Carl & Judy Stewart

Simmons Family Foundation

Audrey Iscaro

John & Judith Stoddard

Stamford Hospital Foundation

Isabel Katz & Daniel Thompson

Jenna Temple

Velaj Foundation

Joy Katz

Gillian Thompson

Sylvia Kaye

James & Gail Todd

Alena Kerins

Nikki Tsairis

70 millriverpark.org

If any names are omitted or misspelled, we apologize and ask that you contact us with corrections.

A special thank you to our foundation donors from July 2019–June 2021

“Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing.”

— National Park Service

Whittingham Family Foundation

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A special thank you to our corporate donors from July 2019–June 2021

72

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73

Thank you to our board members (as of November 1, 2021)

Mill River Park Collaborative staff

Arthur Selkowitz, Chairman and acting CEO

(as of November 1, 2021)

Arnold M. Karp, Vice Chair Fatima Mawji, MD, Vice Chair Robert Granata, Treasurer Don Brownstein, Secretary

Dianne Houtz Director of Administration

Ralph Blessing George Boyce Sandy Goldstein Emily M. Gordon Robin Graham Conor Horigan David Kooris Noah Lapine

Thomas Madden Mark McGrath Frank Mercede Shelly Nichani Michael Pollard Matt Quinones Ryan Salvatore J.J. Sendelbach Jim Shapiro Camille S. Spaulding Jon Winkel Jennifer Young Nate Zubal

Kristia Janowski Director of Environmental Education & Sustainability Kevin Kelly Director of Business Operations Mike Stake Director of Capital Planning & Building Alicia Wettenstein Director of Development

Mackenzie Coughlin Event Marketing & Membership Coordinator Brandon Forlenzo Landcare Technician Vincent Piselli Manager, Landcare Mark Pruzsko Park Ambassador Marlie Reid Manager, Private Events & Carousel Operations Kristy Schutzman Horticulture Specialist Alex Smith Landcare Technician

Connecting people and nature

Mill River Park Collaborative

Tiffany Wilson Manager, Youth & Family Programs 74

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75

COLLABORATIVE

Mill River Park Collaborative 1010 Washington Boulevard Stamford, CT 06901 millriverpark.org 203.989.0321