Hazard led me to Google “East Rock Park New Haven”: I cannot tell you how happy I was to see the park is thriving and read the glowing remarks of those of enjoy and love it. Especially important was the current map of the Park (http://www.CityOfNewHaven.com/Parks) and other reports of it’s current use (http://ctweekender.com/ideas/parks-forests/local-parks/east-rock-park/ .

I wonder how many of you know that in the 1960′s, the State Highway Department planned to construct a “connector” through the park that would link I-91 (under construction) with Orange Street. This planned connector would have split the park but there was considerable public opposition to the project.

At that time, I was an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Yale, and lived (with my first wife and two children) at 103 Canner Street. We loved the park, spent hours there, and were horrified at the project.

With the support of William Lee Miller (Professor at Yale Divinity School and a neighbor), we started the “Save the Park” committee to fight the project — and I served as its chair. From information on the internet, I gather that there’s still no connector.

Seeing the reports and detailed maps of the park (e.g, http://www.friendsofeastrockpark.org/>, may I express my thanks to those who have followed through and made this park an even better resource for the citizen’s of New Haven. It’s wonderful to think that our efforts have had a lasting benefit. May you continue to enjoy this and other public parks and open spaces that play such an important role in any “livible” city.

Roger D. Masters
Research professor and Nelson A. Rockefeller Prof. Emeritus of Government
Department of Government
Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH 03755