Governor M. Jodi Rell presenting the Merritt Parkway Day Proclamation to MPC Vice Chairman Keith Simpson.

Bringing Dogwood Trees Back Into The Parkway’s Landscape
When the Parkway opened, not only was the landscape a sensitive and extraordinary re-creation of natural beauty, but it also served to tie the roadway into a 37-mile linear park, helping to create a marvelous work of art. Unfortunately road improvements, blight, and reductions in road maintenance destroyed much of the original plantings and almost all of the dogwoods. Join us in our efforts to restore the Parkway’s landscape. A landscape celebrating the innumerable combinations of form and color resulting in a magnificent travel experience. Donations will be used for the purchase and planting of dogwoods by a professional tree service — as volunteers are not allowed on the Parkway.

Revitalizing The Merritt Parkway
The Merritt Parkway Conservancy has been diligently working in partnership with other stakeholders to revitalize the Parkway by:

• Working with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) in reviewing the Fairfield/Trumbull Resurfacing, Bridge and Safety Improvement Project. The project includes bridge cleaning and restoration, safety improvements, landscape restoration and replacement of the steel guardrails with the preferred timber backed rail. The project was reviewed by MPC and resulted in many landscape design enhancements. The Conservancy is currently reviewing the planned bridge work.
• Participating in the stakeholder meetings for the Route 7/Main Avenue Interchange to develop a conceptual design which will avoid significant impact to the Merritt Parkway.
• Preparing The Merritt Parkway Service Area Guidelines and Comments to be used as a resource in the redevelopment and long-term operation of the service areas. The booklet offers solutions and suggestions addressing site elements and design of the service plazas.
• Proposing an alternate plan for the New Canaan Salt Shed and Maintenance Facility. The Conservancy succeeded in the salt shed being moved further away from the Parkway, and lowered in elevation, protecting the viewshed from the Merritt.
• Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the Merritt Parkway. Governor Rell and CTDOT Commissioner Joseph Marie acknowledged the uniqueness of the Merritt and thanked the Conservancy for our work in preserving this historic road.

Surveyor bass relief on the Burr Street Bridge (1939); decorative owl ready to take flight from the Hillside Road Bridge (1940); detail of the “sgraffito” Griffin panel on the Grumman Avenue Bridge (1938).