Bristow Park upgrades ‘ahead of schedule, on budget’ leading to centennial
NEW CANAAN — Chris Schipper peered through his binoculars as he spotted a junco, a tufted titmouse and a chickadee that were all visiting one of the 26 bird feeders in the Bristow Sanctuary & Wildwood Preserve as he gave a tour of all the changes taking place at the 16.8-acre park.
Those were just three of 100 bird species sighted — a milestone the park has just surpassed last week— the chairman of the conservation commission noted as he showed the progress in a four-phase improvement project. The bird sightings are tracked on the e-bird website and the “record setting observation” was a pair of Rusty Blackbirds observed by Frank Gallo, Schipper said.
Started in 2018, plans were made to revive the third oldest bird sanctuary in the country as it prepares for its centennial celebration in 2024 and reaches the project’s final phase. The date Sept. 8, 2024 has been set for the celebration.
Schipper said he is proud that the entire Bristow project is both ahead of schedule and on budget.
The public-private partnership between the town and Friends of Bristow has changed from a littleknown park with snug, rugged pathways to a popular venue with several wide trails by nearby ponds and streams. The town has spent $400,000 and Friends of Bristow have raised an additional $200,000 for the park.
The trails are covered with tiny gravel to make it easy for parents pushing strollers and elderly navigating the park. Soon, as part of phase four, parking will be available on Stamford Road near the larger pond that was dredged as part of the first phase.
As part of the latest phase, new 6-foot fencing with a two-foot top has been installed around the perimeter of the park to dissuade the patronage of deer.
After entering from Mead Memorial Park, past the Apple Cart, a left-hand turn after the bridge leads to a clearing for a pavilion where flag stone floor have also been laid. The 20x30foot pavilion will be a temporary haven of shelter for walkers caught in the rain, Schipper said. He also hopes it is the venue for future wildlife classes.
Past the pavilion, new construction is also underway for a bird blind with two levels of viewing portals — one for children and people in wheelchairs and another, higher blind for adults. The blind, which will have a handicap accessible
A titmouse and chickadee visiting at one of the 26 bird feeders in the Bristow Bird Sanctuary on Monday were just two of 100 bird species sighted — a milestone the park has just surpassed last week.
ramp, was designed by Patrick Comins and Stefan Martin of Connecticut Audubon and overlooks Skull Pond. Schipper hopes to attract herons and other water gathering birds to the site.
Nearby, from a newly cleared overlook, visitors can see across the park to an area of new meadows, winding trails, bridges, boardwalks and other vistas, many of the enhancements added during this project. The design work was done by Keith Simpson
Associates in coordination with the Department of Public Works.
One of several visitors in Bristow Park on this brisk day was resident Claire Queally, who was walking her dog, and said her mom visits the park every day.
“She loves it,” Queally said. “They make a huge difference.”
The park once featured a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, known for his care for nature and animals. It was
destroyed by vandals in 2002. Schipper hopes to have a new statute of the saint brought to the park, this time holding a bird. Schipper would also like to restore remains of a section of a wall that dates back to the 1700s where, at one time, Stamford and Norwalk bordered each other.
Schipper lauded the project and said he is grateful for the continued support of First Selectman Kevin Moynihan and members of the Conservation Commission.