4/9/10

We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a Coastal Park at the former Griswold Airport. Your help is needed to raise the final $1.0 million. A historic partnership between the Town of Madison, Audubon Connecticut, Stop Griswold Over Development, and The Trust for Public Land (TPL) has led to this unprecedented opportunity to protect the 42-acre former Griswold Airport property, directly adjacent to the globally Important Bird Area at Hammonasset Beach State Park and create an iconic Town park.

Madison residents recently expressed resounding support for the vision to create a new coastal park by approving a $9.0 Million bond toward the project. The plan includes long-term conservation protection of the majority of the land, such as the salt marshes and riverine habitat, as well as adequate buffers for the fragile wetland habitats and renovation of a smaller portion of the land for an active recreational park. This land features highly valuable natural resources, including:

- frontage on the Hammonasset River
- biologically productive tidal wetlands
- globally significant nesting habitat for Saltmarsh Sparrows
- a native coastal forest
- important salt marsh contiguous with the marshes of Hammonasset Beach State Park

We are at 91% of completing the purchase, but our partnership must raise the final $1 million by May 1, 2010. The total project cost is $11.0 million, which includes land acquisition, renovation and project costs. Without full funding, a dense residential development will be built and the land will be lost forever. Please act NOW to ensure that this important ecosystem and open space are protected for people and wildlife to enjoy as a coastal park.

Please make a generous gift today by our deadline of May 1, 2010 to help the community of Madison create a park for current and future generations of residents, children, visitors, and wildlife to enjoy forever. This natural asset will be one the state's most enduring legacies.

Please send your contributions by May 1, to TPL, 101 Whitney, New Haven, CT 06510 and please indicate that you learned of this effort through Audubon Connecticut.

Download donation card

Visit The Trust for Public Land and SaveGriswoldLand.org for more information on the campaign.