Friends Of Farmington Canal

Volunteer Leader(s):

Doreen Abubakar

Aaron Goode

Neighborhood: Newhallville

Type of Site: Streetscape

Address: Hazel st. and Shelton ave, New Haven, CT

Intern(s):

Andrea Terrero (2025)

Camilla Ledezma (2024)

Jess Jones (2023)

Claire St. Peter (2022)

Paul Freudenburg (2021)

Photo Gallery

2025 Greenspace Report

Once known as the “Mudhole,” an open-air drug trafficking space, the Farmington Canal’s Learning Corridor and Urban Oasis has been transformed under the leadership of Doreen Abubakar, who has used it to foster community and environmental education. This year, we focused on weeding and mulching around the urban oasis, as well as revitalizing the area across the street, which Doreen hopes to turn into a gaming area. We planted three trees as the first step toward bringing that vision to life. Doreen’s commitment and creativity are reflected in the site’s incredible transformation.

2025 Accomplishments

3 trees planted ( 2 Lacebark Elm, 1 Amur Maackia )
0.5 yards compost spread
1.0 yards mulch spread
10 events
9 volunteers
66 volunteer hours

Annual Reports

Greenspace Log

05/27/2025

Doreen and I discussed her vision for the site. She emphasized the importance of environmental education, suggesting the incorporation of labels on the plants at Farmington so those who visited would be able to learn and engage with them. She also talked about her hope of ultimately making the site self-sustaining and low-maintenace by planting native plants that would be able to outcompete the weeds that grow aggresively on the urban oasis. Doreen also mentioned creating a game area across the street where community members could gather and play surrounded by nature. I'm excited to help Doreen excecute her vision, with the help of her interns and community volunteers!

Planning

08/01/2024

For our last session, the group–volunteers, CPEN interns and staff, and others–came together to enjoy the park space over snacks and refreshments. We reflected on our achievements this summer, expressing gratitude for the hard work and dedication that everyone in the group has put into creating such a beautiful and inviting space for the community. We will miss these workdays and look forward to building on our work next season.

Social

07/25/2024

This was a special workday at the Learning Corridor! Volunteers from Lenzi Park, another Greenspace group, joined CPEN (Doreen Abubakar's Community Placemaking and Engagement Network) interns and summer camp attendees to plant native plants in the Urban Oasis, expanding it northward. Volunteers worked together to plant, water, mulch, and pull weeds in the area, creating a more welcoming educational space for the Newhallville and Farmington Canal community. Plants came from the Urbanscapes Plant Nursery across the street. The group is looking forward to future Greenspace collaborations. In fact, all are invited to next week's final meeting a celebration of the park that the group has dedicated time and care to stewarding. We hope to see you there!

Planting

Urban Resources Initiative

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