Transforming a former Winchester machine gun test firing range into a healing garden for anyone impacted by violence is not your every day construction project. We get it! Here are some common questions we get asked from the community:
I’ve been to DeNicola Park tons of times. There isn’t a gun manufacturer test firing range. Where are you talking about? Actually, there is! We find folks are often surprised to hear that the park property goes all the way to Leeder Hill! In the woods is a big long concrete wall with graffiti on it. Most people think it is just a wall. Guns built by Winchester Repeating Arms would be test fired inside of the structure. For over half a century it has been abandoned, but we have met quite a few people who have been inside of it.
Is this the same as the Hamden homicide memorial garden? No. That garden is called Hamden Homicide Memorial Botanical Garden of Healing (H.H.M.B.G.H.) and will be located at Eli Whitney Park. That garden is a memorial garden to honor over 50 families in Hamden who have lost a loved one to homicide in Hamden. Elijah is one of the names who will be included in that garden. Our goal at Eli’s Garden of Healing is to keep names out of memorial gardens by offering violence prevention and healing programs while advocating for safer communities. Eli’s Garden of Healing will be a place of healing and peace for anyone impacted by any form of violence, including homicide. Many people are impacted in multiple ways from violence. Our mission is serve all who are impacted by violence.
Is this the Six Lakes/Olin property? Not exactly, but related! Six Lakes is over 100 acres of land which is very close to DeNicola Park. The history of the two properties are forever linked as both were Winchester Repeating Arms test firing sites. At one point they were all part of the same land owned by Winchester. We have some amazing aerial photos for any history buffs out there.. Now the test firing ranges at Six Lakes are destroyed, however the one located at DeNicola Park, and stretching into the surrounding condos, is still in existence. Our hope is that one day visitors of EGH will also be able to visit Six Lakes. In fact, we hope to open the park up on the Leeder Hill side of DeNicola Park and create a small amount of parking spaces, which will really help visitors enjoy both greenspaces.
How will this be funded? Great question! We are working to obtain grants to pay for most of the cost of this project but rely on individual contributions to support immediate expenses such as site surveys, tree mapping, hosting community feedback sessions, structural engineering tests and more. Before the garden is shovel-ready we have a number of near-term expenses which we need to fund through community-sourced private contributions. To make a tax-deductible financial gift, visit the bottom of any page of our website. Interested in corporate sponsorships or discussing ways your company can help? Send an email to our President Crystal Cathcart! Her email is growers@elisgardenofhealing.com
The woods at DeNicola Park are thick and filled with poison ivy! Not a question, but good point! Yes they are and filled with invasive vines, shrubs, and tons of fallen and diseased trees. We will be doing tree survey work to identify what is healthy, and what is not. Our goal is to keep as many of the trees as we can, while clearing away the thick overgrown invasive plants. We intend for EGH to be a beautiful woodland garden filled with native shade-loving plants such as ferns, hostas, hellebore, and more.
How will the space be used once it is open to the public? We would love to hear more from you about how the community thinks they can use the space as we work on design plans. We have some ideas on ways the community will benefit from the healing garden: yoga, meditation, outdoor art classes, survivor group meet ups… It is really important that we design around community feedback, so stay tuned for upcoming events. We have already received a bunch of great ideas from community members.
Have a question or idea? Send us a message.
