ANNUAL REPORT July 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025
Dear Friends of Mill River Park, As we reflect on 2025, we are reminded once again of the power of community and of the joy that you, our neighbors and visitors, bring to Mill River Park. This past year has been a milestone in our journey to create a vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable green space in the heart of Stamford, made richer by your participation, energy, and support. We welcomed new and returning visitors throughout the year, celebrating many exciting highlights that showcased the Park as a true gathering place for all. Across the seasons, the Park offered countless moments of joy from children laughing at the new Sue McGraw Friendship Playground, to families marveling at the spring cherry blossoms, to the energy of concerts, festivals, and fitness classes. The thousands of visitors who joined programs, explored the Park, and celebrated together are the heart of what makes this space so special. Today, we are excited to share this Annual Report, which highlights the accomplishments, programs, and milestones that made our 2025 fiscal year remarkable. These achievements were made possible thanks to you, our community, along with the dedication of our Board of Directors, team, volunteers, donors, and partners. Together, we’ve created a Park that is more than just a destination. It is a living part of our community and a place for milestones both big and small. Looking ahead, we are excited to build on this momentum with you by our side. In 2026, we will continue expanding inclusive programming, strengthening educational opportunities, and preparing for new spaces, such as the Community Commons, that will further enrich the Park experience for all. We invite you to keep visiting, exploring, and celebrating with us. There’s always something new to discover at Mill River Park! Sincerely,
Arnold M. Karp Board Chairman
Nette Compton President & CEO
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WHAT’S NEW Sue McGraw Friendship Playground Mill River Park proudly unveiled its new Sue McGraw Friendship Playground in June 2025, a space where imagination, movement, and connection come to life. Blending seamlessly with the park’s landscape, the playground invites children to explore, climb, and create in a nature-inspired setting. With inclusive swings, a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round, sensory play zones, and more, every feature ensures children of all abilities can play side by side. What makes this playground truly special is how it captures the heart of Stamford. Shaped by input from more than 1,000 local students and families, it reflects the creativity and community spirit that make Mill River Park a place for everyone.
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COMMUNITY EVENTS & PROGRAMS
In addition to free events, Mill River Park hosted park-sponsored programs that brought the community together, including: Alive at Five Stamford Dances Hey Stamford! Food Fest Mayor’s Multicultural Council Rhythm & Salsa Nights Freedom Day Celebration That’s Amore! Luckypawlooza Stamford Day Love Fest Summer Solstice Off-Main Experience Art Festival
This year Mill River Park welcomed over 7,000 visitors to free events and activities including: Easter & Halloween Trails Movies in the Park Fun Saturday Mornings Sunday Funday Fitness Fun Open Mic Night & Silent Disco Swing in the Park
32,000
TOTAL ATTENDEES
7,620
ATTENDED FREE PARK PROGRAMS 4
OUT OF SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Our Out-of-School Programs provided a safe, engaging, and enriching environment for children beyond the classroom. From homework help and STEM activities to arts, sports, and outdoor recreation, each program fostered learning, creativity, and fun.
2025 IMPACT for Day School, Vacation Camp & Afterschool
104
DAY CAMPERS
79
VACATION CAMPERS
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AFTERSCHOOL STUDENTS
“Our kids love the Park. They run through the trails, discover nature, and come home excited to share what they learned.” – Sarah L. 5
3,821
3,488
236
19
Individuals Served
Students Participated in 52 Field Trips
Engaged through inschool programs & STEAM nights
Schools Served
Henkel Researchers World Henkel Researchers’ World is an interactive education initiative that inspires children ages 7 - 11 to explore the world of science by stepping into the role of real researchers. Through hands-on experiments and engaging lessons, students learned to think critically, ask questions, and discover how science shapes everyday life. CHILDREN SERVED
2,636
EDUCATION
School Programs
SURPASSED OUR 2024 GOAL BY
260%
Youth Workforce Development: Docents & Stewards Mill River Stewards is a summer internship program for high school students, providing paid, hands-on experience in park stewardship, environmentalism, and conservation careers. The Docents program, launched in 2021, trains Stewards graduates to enhance the Park’s outreach and help facilitate programs. Together, these programs engaged 39 youth in 2025 and offered pathways for leadership, career growth, and community involvement. 6
EVENTS AND RECOGNITION
Parties at the Park Mill River Park is the perfect place to celebrate any occasion, with versatile indoor and outdoor spaces that make every party memorable. To book your party, email parties@millriverpark.org.
2025 Dinner in the Park In May, we honored Shipman & Goodwin LLP at our Gala for their commitment to the Park for more than twenty years. Guests gathered to celebrate the park’s growth, connect with fellow supporters, and enjoy an evening of gratitude and community.
Corporate Volunteers Our volunteers brought the park to life, supporting landcare across 30+ acres while contributing 1,831 hours and $20,400 in donations in fiscal year 2025. Their time, energy, and generosity made every corner of the park thrive.
Main Street Garden Volunteers Nestled off of the Main Street entrance, the Main Street Garden serves as a mini botanical garden. This gem flourishes thanks to the tireless care of our volunteers, who transform it into a welcoming, vibrant space for all to enjoy. 7
FISCAL YEAR 2025 FINANCIALS Gala & Individual Donations 5% City of Stamford Operations TIF 37%
Corporate & Foundation Giving 14%
Operating Revenue City of Stamford Federal & State Funds 13%
Operations Tax Incremental Funding $1,215,000
Total Operating Revenue $3,320,853
Operations Grant
$500,000
Fee-for-Service/Programming
$523,777
Federal & State Funding
$446,567
Corporate & Foundation Giving
$454,271
Gala & Individual Donations
$181,238
Total Revenue
$3,320,853
City of Stamford Operations Grant 15%
Fee for Service/Programming 16%
Program Expenditure & Park Maintenance 79%
Total Operating Expense $3,248,688
Operating Expenses Program Expenditure/Park Maintenance $2,558,331 Administration
$512,711
Fundraising
$177,646
Total Expenses
$3,248,688
Fundraising 5%
Administration 16%
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FISCAL YEAR 2025 FINANCIALS Investment Income DEEP 2% Reimbursement 8%
City of Stamford TIF 24%
Capital Funding Total Capital Funding $2,395,275
Corporate and Foundation Capital Donations
$1,602,804
City of Stamford - Tax Incremental Funding
$570,915
DEEP Reimbursement
$183,333
Investment Income
$38,223
Total Capital Funding
$2,395,275
Corporate & Foundation Capital Giving 67% Capital Construction In Progress 9%
Construction Management 7%
Capital Expenses Total Capital Expenses $2,827,465
Capital Fixed Assets Increase
$2,377,640
Capital Construction in Progress
$262,958
Construction Management
$186,867
Total Capital Expenses
$2,827,465
Capital Fixed Assets 84%
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MILL RIVER PARK COLLABORATIVE SUPPORTERS
Legacy Grove Special thanks to the donors who have given or pledged over $1 million dollars over the Collaborative’s history. Don & Lisa Brownstein Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation City of Stamford Fairfield County's Community Foundation General Electric (GE) The Suzanne McGraw Foundation Inc. McKeon Family
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation John & Paula Todd Selkowitz Family Foundation State of Connecticut Andrew Whittingham & Family Michael Whittingham & Family
Cherry Blossom Society Special thanks to the donors who have given or pledged $225,000 to $750,000 over the Collaborative’s history. Charter Communications Marilyn Clements The Cullman Family First County Bank Foundation Inc.
The Overbrook Foundation: Robin & Julie Graham Patricia & Robert Phillips Reckson, A Division of SL Green
Dean & Laura Godown Henkel Corporation Karp Family Foundation Vince & Linda McMahon Family Foundation
The Rich Family Foundation Charles & Deborah Royce The Herbert & Nell Singer Foundation Inc. Structured Portfolio Management
Inc. Nestle Waters North America Inc. David & Miriam Nissen
Synchrony Thomson Reuters UBS
Harley & Stephen Osman
Barbara & Fabrizio Zichichi
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CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS We want to recognize and thank all of the our generous Park supporters who gave from July 1,2024 - June 30,2025 $100,000 to $50,000 Arnold & Lisa Karp Synchrony
$49,999 to $10,000 Andrew J Whittingham Family Foundation Inc. Building and Land Technology Castleton Commodities International Charter Communications Fairfield County's Community Foundation First County Bank Freepoint Commodities LLC Dean & Laura Godown Julie & Robin Graham Henkel Corporation Horizon Foundation, Inc. Frank & Lori Mercede New England Investment Partners The Scripps Family Fund for Education and the Arts Thomas Tryforos Denise & Tom Walsh Barbara & Fabrizio Zichichi
$9,999 to $5,000 Accurate Lock and Hardware Ashforth Properties Inc. Cynthia & Richard Blumenthal Brownstein Family Foundation Paula Callari Carmody, Torrance, Sandak & Hennessey, LLP Ralph W. Casazzone Crane Charitable Funds Cynthia Ferreira Anthony Gaglio Bryan Keogh Keitha Kinne Kirmar Foundation Naomi Lieberman Linda & Vince McMahon Phibro Renew Oil Reckson Selkowitz Family Foundation James Shapiro Silver Golub & Teitell, LLP
Sandy & Steve Soule Soule, Blake & Wechsleer, Inc. Stamford Downtown Special Services District Stamford Hospital Foundation The M&T Charitable Foundation
$4,999 to $1,000 adm Group June & Ron Ahrens B2R Consulting Engineers, PLLC Mark Barbera Kerrin & Stephne Behrend Stephen Berni Robyn Blosio Gerald Bosak Brian Capone Land Services LLC Bill Buckley Luke Buttenwieser Stephen Canna Centerbrook Architects and Planners Claire L. Helsing Foundation Amy & William Clark Miriam Cohen Cross Insurance Leonard D'Andrea Denise & Nicola Doria EY The Whitmyer Family Esta & Jay Feinsod Amy & Andrew George Saul Goodman Emily & Sam Gordon Grade A ShopRite Robert Granata Gridiron Capital, LLC Arlene Hall Juanita James Mitch Kidd David Kooris KPMG LLP Seth Lapine Mark Lapine Noah Lapine Life Time Foundation Nina & Norman Lotstein Jonathan Marcus David Martin Jackqueline Mclean Stamford Studios NBC Universal O&G Industries, Inc. OpenTable Barbara & Joseph Pierce Rick & Robin Redniss O&G Industries, Inc. OpenTable Barbara & Joseph Pierce Rick & Robin Redniss
The Rich Family Foundation RMS Companies Mary & Ryan Salvatore Robert Schiltz Alana & Jed Selkowitz Marsha J.Shendell Judith Steinberg Elise Swanton Monica Swinney The First Bank of Greenwich Wellbuilt Company Western Connecticut Council of Governments Adam Whittingham Michael & Louise Widland Wofsey, Rosen, Kweskin & Kuriansky, LLP
“I love coming to the Park! I got to ride the carousel, make crafts, and see my friends.” -Liam, Age 9
$999 to $500 Terry Adams Marilyn & Stuart Adelberg Cristina Andreana Ahmet Atamen Tremane Bartley BDO Sally Cadoux Heather Cavanagh Joe Cingari Kathryn Corbally Keegan Drenosky Fredric & Harriet Dulaney Gary Feldman Jennifer Forman Robin Frederick Marshall Goldberg Michele Hance Marc Jaffe Geraldine & Mark Katz Alice Knapp
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CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS $999 to $500 David Lasnick Dana Lee Eileen Merrigan Carl Palash Robert Peirce Carlos Ramos Paulina Ribadeneyra Mia Schipani Ann Sexton Timothy Smith Stantec Louise Stern Judy Stewart Kristen Stops Scott & Tanya Therrien Ryan Urgo William Wright Jennifer Young
$499 to $100 Merlin Alper Jane & Stephen Alpert Jeri & Mark Appel Sanford A. Bell James Bitzonis Gregory Bomash George Boyce Sarah Boyle Henry Bubel Douglas Burke Peter Carriero Charities Aid Foundation America Raiford Cockfield Jeffrey & Martha Cokin Jeannette Compton Russell Davis Gary Dell’Abate Gloria DePina Cathleen Donnelly Joy Eller May & Vagn Fausing Vito Ferrucci Jimmy Fink Deborah Fins Julienne Foy Donna & Ed Fuhrman Darunee Gambino Gary Gepner Joseph Giancola Frances & Gerry Ginsburg MaryGrace Giuliano Ellen Gordon
Edward & Susan Greenberg Geri Guzinski Lori Gyesky Judith & Leonard Haber Rich Henke Jeff Houle Bruce & Connie Hubbard Elizabeth Huffine Jen Humphries Jill Kanin-Lovers Steve Karp Randie Katz Edith Khayatt David & Lorraine Kweskin Nick & Rebecca Lai Julius Lasnick Andrea & Martin Levine Stephen Lynch Ari & Heidi Maunula Kay Maxwell Todd McClutchy Kathryn & Martin McGrath Joel Mellis Katy Meyers Joan Montello Michael Moran Caroline Morris Garry Morton James & Margot Mustich Merritt & Roslyn Nesin Craig & Suzanne Olin Allie Osowski Kurt & Susan Ostheimer Parachute Concerts LLC Claire Pariano Angie Parker Anne Pawlik Alan & Lynn Pearce James Popper Chris Richichi Janet & John Roemer Allan & Sally Sacks Steven Samela Ethan Schneider Brian Sciacca Elaine Sharlach Stephen Sherman Jami Sherwood Jerome Silber Mark C. Smith Blaire Spaulding Pete Steer Robin Stein Beverly & David Stein Victoria Vandamm Carl & Dana Weinberg Juliet & Matthew Weissman
Up to $100 Linda Alfini Marta Bailey Coleen Bank Elizabeth Bromley Alexandra Delucia Tamara Duhov Erin Dummeyer Chandra Dunitz Richard Fisher Bridget Fox Amar Gada Sandra Garramone Nancy & Robert Gerry Michael Guglielmo Herminia Gutierrez Rob Guttman David Hoskins Lena Howansky Holly Hyman Rudi Karukad John Keller Mary Krayeske John Lindell Ellen Malasky Grace Markovits Cynthia & Stanford Miller Luisa & Noah Montenegro Jakeline Morales Paul Okura Christine Olivera Sophia Paul Liana Petruso Donald & Rosemary Rullman Michael & Sharon Sabia James & Michelle Sabia Gunnar Sahlin John Scala Camila Schneider Nolan Schwartz Carolyn & Frederick Shulman Henry & Meryl Silverstein Brian Sisco Shirley & William Sklar Ellie Telzer Dianne Walker Adam Wiessmann Manja Wurschke Emily Yang Kimberly Zaccagnino
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OUR VOLUNTEERS Community Volunteers
Corporate Volunteers
Boston University Future 5 Stamford JCC Liberation Programs University of Connecticut at Stamford Westhill High School
adm Indicia AXA XL Bank of America BDO Castleton Commodities International Clearview Capital CraneNXT Crius Energy Deloitte Design Within Reach Developing World Markets Diageo Digitas
Dstillery Eastern Mountain Sports EY Franklin Templeton/K2 Advisors Freepoint Commodities LLC General Electric (GE) Gridiron Capital LLC Harman Henkel Indeed.com InteliSearch KPMG Legg Mason LGRA Life Time Foundation Moffly Media Morgan Stanley NBC Sports Nestle Waters Nielsen Pepsi Co. Philips Point 72 Pricewaterhouse Coopers PwC RBS Reckson Robinson & Cole Spencer Stuart Stamford Hilton Stantec Starwood Hotels Synchrony Target The Ashforth Company The Lockwood Group Thomson Reuters Towers Watson Trafigura UBS Valitana Viacom Whole Foods
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS (as of November 1, 2025)
Arnold M. Karp Chairman George Boyce Vice Chair Frank Mercede Vice Chair Robert Granata Treasurer Jim Shapiro Secretary
Bonnie Kim Campbell
Robert C. Graham
Adam Whittingham
Kathryn Corbally
David Kooris
Michael Widland
Keegan Drenosky
Jon Marcus
Jennifer Young
Cynthia Ferreira
Steve Micolo
Fabrizio Zichichi
Jennifer Forman
Matt Quinones
Nette Compton President and CEO
Bridget Fox
Mia Schipani
Emily M. Gordon
Tom Walsh
Arthur Selkowitz Founding Board Chair
Ryan Salvatore Assistant Secretary
OUR TEAM (as of November 1, 2025)
Nette Compton President & CEO Mike Stake VP of Capital Planning Alicia Wettenstein VP of Development Marlie Saint-Surin Director of Programs and Administration Kristia Janowski Director of Education and Sustainability Niamh Thurman Director of Finance
Tiffany Wilson Senior Youth and Family Programs Manager Roselyne Opont Senior Private Events and Carousel Operations Manager
Brian Sachs Assistant Landcare Manager Kristy Schutzman Horticulture Supervisor Gabriel Gardino Landcare Technician
Cendall Carranza Marketing Communications Specialist
Brandon Forlenzo Landcare Technician
Isabella Montenegro Development Associate
Alex Nelson Park Ambassador
Rachel Grella Education Manager
Jason Riendeau Park Ambassador and Maintenance
Vincent Piselli Senior Landcare Manager
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1010 Washington Boulevard Stamford, CT 06901