Pieces of open space provide a reprieve from New Haven’s tall buildings and busy streets
The Green
The Green in downtown, New Haven is a great place for students to just go and relax, walk through the park and enjoy the surrounding city life. It’s located between Elm, College, Chapel and Church streets. The two plots of land are separated by Temple Street.
The side with John Dixwell’s grave, his monument and the two churches is more wooded, while the other side of Temple has more open space for visitors to sit on the grass and enjoy the sunlight. The open space allows room for picnics, games and other fun outdoor activities.
The Green is spacious enough to observe the New Haven area. The surrounding architecture is a mix between old and new. The new buildings on Chapel Street give a nice contrast with the Yale’s Old campus on College Street.
Westville
Westville Park is conveniently located right off campus, on Blake Street, across from the Westville apartments, Pizza Heaven, a favorite to many students. The park is great place for students to sit and relax before or after class when the quad is too crowded.
The neighborhood of Westville contains several parks. Beecher Park and Edgewood Park are close to campus. Edgewood is right off Fitch Street and Beecher Park is at the end of Blake Street. West Rock Playground is also right on Blake Street, which is a great release for students to find their inner child again and swing on some swings and enjoy the daylight and warm sun. These parks are a great way to relax and just enjoy the city that is New Haven as spring finally shows its face.
East and West Rock
East Rock is located northeast of Yale’s campus and the New Haven Green. Entrances from Davis Street, Farnam Drive and Whitney Avenue, give residents and tourists the ability to fully see East Rock. East Rock Park Road is a good place to start the adventure. The road leads to the top of East Rock, where the Soldiers and Sailors Monument overlooks the city of New Haven. East rock is also a great spot for picnics in the spring and summer, with spacious grassy areas. The parking area in front of the monument gives a whole map of the city as you look over it. Both East Rock and West Rock also provide bike routes for residents and tourists to explore the parks. Orange Street is the backbone of East Rock, and is a popular site for cyclists to enter the park.
West Rock, situated adjacent to campus, behind Neff Hall, is a popular destination for students to hike and enjoy the wilderness in Southern’s back yard. West Rock Ridge Park provides several trails for everyone’s hiking level. The main entrance is off Main Street on Wintergreen Avenue.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment Protection describes West Rock on its website: “Rising up to 627 feet above mean sea level, West Rock Ridge is one of the most prominent features of the New Haven region. West Rock affords the visitor a spectacular view; it is estimated that one can see approximately 200 square miles from various locations on the ridge with excellent views of New Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound.”
East Rock is located northeast of Yale’s campus and the New Haven Green. Entrances from Davis Street, Farnam Drive and Whitney Avenue, give residents and tourists the ability to fully see East Rock. East Rock Park Road is a good place to start the adventure. The road leads to the top of East Rock, where the Soldiers and Sailors Monument overlooks the city of New Haven. East rock is also a great spot for picnics in the spring and summer, with spacious grassy areas. The parking area in front of the monument gives a whole map of the city as you look over it. Both East Rock and West Rock also provide bike routes for residents and tourists to explore the parks. Orange Street is the backbone of East Rock, and is a popular site for cyclists to enter the park.
West Rock, situated adjacent to campus, behind Neff Hall, is a popular destination for students to hike and enjoy the wilderness in Southern’s back yard. West Rock Ridge Park provides several trails for everyone’s hiking level. The main entrance is off Main Street on Wintergreen Avenue.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environment Protection describes West Rock on its website: “Rising up to 627 feet above mean sea level, West Rock Ridge is one of the most prominent features of the New Haven region. West Rock affords the visitor a spectacular view; it is estimated that one can see approximately 200 square miles from various locations on the ridge with excellent views of New Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound.”
By Megan Grabowski
