In 1889, the City of New Haven “adopted” sixty acres of property which they turned over to the new Park Commission for development. Nicholas W. Hubinger, James Mason, and Donald Mitchell made additional donations of land for the park. Mitchell, an author and agriculturist whose pen name was “Ik Marvel” lived above Forest Road on his Farm, “Edgewood,” the namesake of the park.

In 1910, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. designed the layout of the present park. It included an extensive rose garden, a “grandmother’s garden,” a lily pond, an archery field, groves and glens, trails, carriage drives and a bridle path over three miles long. A spring of cold pure water at the corner of Stanley Street and Ella T. Grasso Boulevard was used by the local residents in the summertime; it was later made into a drinking fountain. A century later, Edgewood Park’s 120+ acres provide recreation and tranquility to thousands every year

Directions and Parking: From Wilbur Cross Pkwy (15): Take exit 59 and head south on Whalley Avenue until it meets Route 63 (Whalley Ave). Turn left on Route 63 and continue for 1.2 miles. There will be an entrance on the right with a parking lot near the skate park. There is an additional parking lot near the tennis courts. Simply take a right at West Rock Avenue and turn left into the parking lot.