Mayor, City Ask New Haveners To Weigh In On Ball Island Development Plan

NEW HAVEN, CT — The city is asking residents to make their voices heard on next steps for the development of Ball Island and creation of a new public park, Mill River Park.

Mayor Justin Elicker posted to social media a survey for folks to fill out as the city moves to "imagine what's next" for the proposed development.

Elicker said in addition to the survey, interested residents are encouraged to attend a community meeting on the plan.

• Fill out the survey to tell the City what you want to see at Mill River Park, (or suggest a different name!) Click here.
• Attend the Community Meeting Wednesday, Oct 29, at 6 p.m. at Conte West Hills Magnet School, 511 Chapel St.

In July, Elicker spoke about the proposal to acquire the site of the former English Station power plant and to create a new waterfront park, outdoor public pool, and recreation destination in its place for Elm City residents: Mill River Park.

Acccording to the City, the 8.6-acre site sits on Ball Island in the middle of the Mill River in New Haven’s Mill River district, with its entry point along Grand Avenue between the Fair Haven and Wooster Square neighborhoods. The site is currently home to the former United Illuminating English Station power plant, which first opened in 1929 and has been deactivated since 1992. For over 30 years, the building with an approximate 100,000 square foot footprint and the surrounding site have been left abandoned and contaminated with known carcinogens, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and heavy metals. A Partial Consent Order, dating back to 2015, has not been fully implemented and remains the subject of ongoing litigation, as the building falls into further disrepair and the adjacent property remains blighted and littered with debris.

Learn more about the past, present and future of Ball Island here.