A Major Milestone for Remington Woods
Jhoni Ada
November 2024
Take a Second & Imagine…
It’s a crisp early October day, you step onto a chartered bus and there is palpable excitement in the air. As the wheels of the bus crunch along the gravel path, you journey deeper into Remington Woods.
To your left is a forest of mature and young trees, painted in shades of fading green, gold, and brown. They gently sway in rhythm with the autumn breeze.
To your right tall grass fields, come to life as sparrows dart about and dance under the perfectly blue sky.
Nature has reclaimed its space. Deer graze near Railway Brook, undeterred by the slow-moving bus. The brisk air is met with the warmth of hope and possibility as you, along with community members, environmentalists, science teachers, and eager students, come together to witness nature's majesty, nestled between an urban city and small town. At the very end of the trail, lies a surprise: discussions of a Nature for All conservation plan that could safeguard this oasis. But for now, in this moment, breathe in the crisp fresh air, and soak in the beauty of this rare natural treasure, enjoy the smiles and the company of those sitting all around you who, just like you, believe in the power of conservation.
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Welcome to Remington Woods.
I am so excited to share the incredible success of the October 9, 2024 Remington Woods Bus Tour and the subsequent Community Advisory Panel Meeting, because the tour of Remington Woods was nothing short of remarkable.
Among the attendees were students from High Horizons, passionate about this land, having already created bulletin boards and wildlife clubs to champion its future. As a representative from Senator Murphy’s office and a Stratford native said after the tour, "I can't believe this was what I passed by each morning on my way to school." Along with these enthusiastic students, there were Bridgeport and Stratford residents, as well as representatives from the EPA, USFWS, Save the Sound, Aspetuck Land Trust, and various other community partners and organizations.
Throughout the day, Thomas Stilley, Corteva’s Head Manager of Remediation, shared insights about the progress made in restoring the Woods. "This is a treasure, an absolute treasure that needs to be preserved," one resident said as we passed Lake Success, emphasizing the significance of the place. Later, as we gathered near the forest’s edge, a deer quietly watched from the treeline as Corteva, AECom, and Vita Nuova unveiled their exciting conservation plan: Nature for All.
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The Nature for All conservation plan proposes conserving most of Remington Woods, with managed public access, nature trails, and a nature center. About 60 acres will be used for solar and battery energy farms, which would provide sustainable funding to ensure the Woods remain protected, managed, and safe.
"Urban access to green space," was one of Thomas Stilley’s main points as he spoke to the value of the project’s future. He also explained the unique challenges the site has faced: "Our long history with munitions creates a unique hazard that constrains this property from being used for local real estate and redevelopment." But, I believe that this history also highlights the resilience of nature and the power of conservation efforts.
One attendee couldn’t help but express wonder at the Woods’ hidden beauty: "It's just so unbelievable that it is right here." The tour made clear that Remington Woods is a space worth protecting, and the Nature for All proposal offers hope for a future where this urban forest thrives with public access.
However, there's still more work to be done. Corteva is in discussions with various environmental groups to find the property’s future landowners with the financial means and a deep environmental commitment, as well as long-term stewards who can care for this precious property. With only 1-2 years of remediation left, we are closer than ever to securing a conservation solution for Fairfield County's last lung.
"We have heard the public, and we are happy to be a part of this project," said Thomas Stilley during the meeting, acknowledging the crucial role of community input in shaping the future of the Woods. He added that their remediation efforts have laid the groundwork for "a big portion to be donated to conservation."
Ultimately, it is community input that has been instrumental in shaping these possibilities. But we aren’t finished yet! We believe that federal support, including the potential to incorporate Remington Woods into the Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge, could help protect this land forever.
Stay tuned for more updates and ways you can help as we continue on our mission to save Remington Woods. Together, we are making history.
Thank you for being part of this journey!
Jhoni Ada is Sierra Club Connecticut’s Organizer on Save Remington Woods project in Bridgeport, along with other outreach and projects within the city and Fairfield County.