Calf Pasture Beach

Calf Pasture Beach is an historically significant park and
beach in East Norwalk, Connecticut along Long Island Sound.

The area of the park lands (including adjacent Shady Beach Park and Taylor Farm Park) is approximately 35 acres.Access is by road or public transport: East Avenue intersects I 95at exit 16 and travels past the East Norwalk (Metro-North station) and the East Norwalk Cemeterydown Gregory Boulevard, past the Roger Ludlowe memorial at the rotary to Calf Pasture Beach Road.cite web|title=Connecticut Coastal Access Guide - Calf Pasture Beach
url=http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=249|language=English|accessdate=2008-03-16] cite web|title=Summer Program Parks and Recreation at Norwalk City Website
url=http://www.norwalkct.org/parksrec/CommunityFacilities.htm
language=English
accessdate=2008-03-16] Bus service directly to the park entrance is provided by the Norwalk Transit District.

History

The area now known as Calf Pasture was used by Connecticut colony settlersin the 1600s as grazing land for cows. This activity gave rise to the name of the beach.Deborah Wing Ray, Gloria P. Stewart (1979) (3rd printing 2004). "Norwalk: being an historical account of that Connecticut town". Norwalk, CT: Norwalk Historical Society. ISBN 0-914016-56-3]

The beach was used for disembarkation and encampment during the Tryon raidof the American Revolutionary War in 1779.After having conducted retribution raids at New Haven and
Fairfield William Tryon led 2,600 British troops by boat to Norwalkat approximately 5:00 p.m. on July 10, 1779. They landed near the Round Beach island at the Calf Pasturepeninsula where they spent the night. The next day they set off on the burning of Norwalk that left only 6 housesstanding after the raid.History of Norwalk, Connecticut]

In 1917 the Norwalk City legislature authorized the city to acquire and create a park atCalf Pasture Beach. Property condemnation to acquire the land was started in 1919.In 1922 the descendents of the Betts, Marvin, and Taylor families who owned much of theadjoining property donated their lands to the city. The park opened formally in 1924 whilework on buildings and nearby roads was still underway.Deborah Wing Ray, Gloria P. Stewart (1979) pp. 187-189]

Some additional buildings and sidewalks were constructed at Calf Pasture in 1935 with funding provided by the
Federal Emergency Relief Administration.Deborah Wing Ray, Gloria P. Stewart (1979) p. 192] Many of the buildings and sidewalks at Calf Pasture were washed away during the New England Hurricane of 1938
hurricane of September 1938. They were then replaced by Works Progress Administration workers.Deborah Wing Ray, Gloria P. Stewart (1979) p. 197]

Shady Beach was acquired in the 1960s.Deborah Wing Ray, Gloria P. Stewart (1979) p. 213] From its start in 2000 through 2006 the Kayak for a Cause charitable fundraising event was held at Calf Pasture Beach. In 2007 that event was held at Veterans Park (also in East Norwalk) on the Connecticut shore. In 2008 it returned to Calf Pasture Beach.

All of the park facilities (Calf Pasture Beach, Shady Beach, and Taylor Farm) are still owned and maintainedby the City of Norwalk.

Facilities

The Calf Pasture Beach area has a large guarded beach, a fishing pier, a tree shaded playground, a small unpaved boatramp (suited to cartop boat launches not trailers), sand volleyball courts, bocce courts, a skateboard park, baseball diamonds (with lighting for nighttime games), accessible restrooms, and a restaurant maintained by
Stew Leonard's. Adjacent Shady Beach Park offersan unmonitored beach, shaded picnic tables, grills, and additional rest room facilities. Adjacent to Shady Beach isTaylor Farm Park which has a tidal pool and grassy and wooded areas for dogwalking. Taylor Farm Park isthe site of an annual Greenwich Kennel club dog show.cite web|title=The Greenwich Kennel Club|url=http://www.greenwichkc.org/|language=English|accessdate=2008-03-16] During the spring and autumn seasons the parking lot at Calf Pasture Beach is used for kart racing.

Sailboats and kayaks can be rented within the Park at the [http://norwalksailingschool.org/ Norwalk Sailing School] which alsooffers a small craft safety training program. [http://norwalksailingschool.org/ Norwalk Sailing School ] ] Calf Pasture Beach is a major landmark along the Norwalk Islands Canoe/KayakTrail.cite web|title=Southwest Regional Planning Agency's "Norwalk Islands Canoe/Kayak Trail Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk, Connecticut"
url=http://a0140702.uscgaux.info/
language=English
accessdate=2008-03-16]

Boater safety courses are offered at the Dominick Lametta training center at [http://a0140702.uscgaux.info/ U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 72] at Calf Pasture.cite web|title=U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 72
url=http://a0140702.uscgaux.info/
language=English
accessdate=2008-03-16]

The annual 4th of July fireworks show in Norwalk is held at Calf Pasture Beach.

References

External links

* http://www.norwalkkartingassociation.net/
* http://norwalksailingschool.org/
* http://a0140702.uscgaux.info/
* http://www.greenwichkc.org/
* http://www.westportoutfitters.com/