Oyster Shell Park Planning and Design - Norwalk, CT

BSC Group planned and is currently designing improvements to Oyster Shell Park, part of the larger Norwalk State Heritage Park on the Norwalk River waterfront. The award-winning Oyster Shell Park Master Plan is intended to create an active and vibrant recreational space that will draw visitors to the area and the adjacent museums and historic sites. A reclaimed landfill located in a highly visible area and in close proximity to other educational resources, Oyster Shell Park is positioned to bring a large body of knowledge to the public about the importance of preserving and restoring our environment and about the value of parklands.

Building on past initiatives, and considering the park’s location on the Norwalk River and its close proximity to cultural attractions, three key design principles were designed to guide the planning process and enhance the recreational experience: art, education and environment.

• Art – Oyster Shell Park is already home to large sculptures and public art. The plan seeks to optimize this feature through the construction of plazas and pathways that will integrate the art more fully with the rest of the park’s amenities. New artwork will be added, focusing on natural materials to promote the park’s environmental theme.
  
  
• Education – An important goal of the park is to provide interactive education through hands-on environmental programming. An outdoor classroom is planned for the water’s edge. Additional programming will also be coordinated with the neighboring Maritime Aquarium. Proposed stormwater systems for the park are open systems, educating the public on the role stormwater plays in our lives.
  
  
• Environment – Environmental stewardship will guide park design. Notable elements of the plan include the use of renewable energy technologies such as photovoltaic cells and wind power, shoreline and habitat restoration, and utilization of recycled materials for path construction.