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Environmental Education

Tarrywile Park serves not only as a premier location for enjoying the beauty and variety of nature, but also as the community’s leader in environmental education. The former site of the Parks dairy farm has been transformed into Danbury’s pre-eminent environmental educational center. The estate’s old hay barn has been renovated into Tarrywile’s Environmental Education Center. The renovations have greatly increased the functionality of this site and the potential for use for community events by local businesses and organizations. One of the farm’s grain silos was also preserved and restored and will eventually be converted for use as a gallery. The Tarrywile Park Master Plan also proposes the development of a pavilion in the farm area that could be used to host events and seminars.

The Friends of Tarrywile Park (FOT) are committed to help the Tarrywile Park Authority fulfill its commitment to environmental education. Plans to restore the historic landscaping and gardens in the area of the Hearthstone Castle are supported by FOT and will be considered for funding support from the Tarrywile Endowment Fund depending on the success of fundraising efforts. Tarrywile currently supports a variety of environmental education initiatives that include the Children’s Garden, guided nature hikes, an environmental library and partnerships with WestConn and the Danbury School System involving activities at the Tarrywile Greenhouse.

For more information about the Friends of Tarrywile Park please call Mark Nolan at 203-797-8255. For more information about Tarrywile environmental education programs please call the Tarrywile Park Authority at 203-744-3130.