Bartlett Gives Gift of Tree Care at Harrybrooke Park

By Alice Tessier

Harrybrooke Park is arguably one of New Milford’s verdant treasures, tucked away as it is on Lanesville Road off the town’s major north-south arteries.

It is cherished by residents looking for a place to take a walk or otherwise enjoy nature near to the downtown area, but what might not be generally known is that it is not a part of the town’s park system.

Harrybrooke, which is open to New Milford residents, is a private park, with museum. As such, it is self-sustaining and does not receive funding from the town.

“It was always meant to be for the people of New Milford to enjoy,” said Jim Williams, a member (along with Jack Buczek and Russ Nicolas) and the chairman of the park’s Board of Managers and the park’s Friends group. “It used to be the estate of Frank Harden, who loved it for its beauty and tranquility, and he wanted it to be continued to be enjoyed.”

Frank Acheson Harden, an industrialist, who lived at Harrybrooke from 1941 until 1965, passed the responsibility for taking care of the nearly 42 acres and estate residence on with a trust he believed would support that.

Mr. Williams noted that Mr. Harden stipulated in his will that a $1 million endowment be established for “the perpetual upkeep” of the park. However, Mr. Williams said, “The way it was set up, only the interest income of the endowment could be used for that. It was written that no one could break into the principal.”

At one time, he explained, there was “enough money, but not in the last 10 to 15 years.”

Harrybrooke’s annual budget “exceeds $80,000,” said Mr. Williams, and what have cut significantly into its budget in recent years, for example, were having to purchase a new furnace a year ago and to install a new septic system a few years earlier. Now it is facing the additional extra expense of having a new roof put on the house museum, an estimated $50,000 expense for which the Harcourt Foundation has given the park a $15,000 grant.

“We are very fortunate that the park has friends,” referring not only to its Friends group, which was established in 2008 “to help raise funds” but also its broader support, Mr. Williams said.

Most recently, he said, and to celebrate Arbor Day, which is observed each year on April 30, Bartlett Tree Experts gave the trees in the park “some tender, loving care.”

“On Arbor Day, many people think of planting trees, but it’s also important to take care of those that have already been planted,” said Matt Flanagan, an arborist representative in the tree-care provider’s Danbury firm, in a news release.

“The trees at Harrybrooke are integral to the beauty of the site, which is a big part of the park’s popularity,” he continued. “This volunteer effort is our way of celebrating the value that these, and all trees, provide to our environment and community.”

Bartlett provided crews, trucks and equipment for a day earlier this month to remove “dead trees in the high-traffic areas” and prune dead limbs from other trees—“services valued at over $2,000 … to help reduce the risks posed by some of the trees,” according to the news release.

“We are very, very grateful,” said Mr. Williams. “That was a big gift.”

He noted that, thanks to volunteers, the park had a successful cleanup effort last Saturday, and the park will benefit from a paint spruce-up the United Way’s Day of Caring, when volunteers participate in work projects. Also, he said, “United Way will be putting in a discovery walkway,” where attention is called to special things along the route.

“The park really is a treasure, and we’re always reaching out to let people know about it and to get them involved, hopefully, in helping it go forward so many more can enjoy it,” said Mr. Williams, who grew up in Bridgewater and memorably made his first visit to the park in 1968, when he married his wife and their wedding pictures were taken there.

Saturday, it will be the venue for the annual Memory Walk to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, for which registration will begin at 9 a.m. and anyone may sign in to participate in the fund-raiser.

“It’s a safe, open space for the public to enjoy,” said Mr. Williams, noting that “there’s frequently so many kids down there riding their bicycles” in addition to walkers and those who rent one or more of the pavilions installed by the Lions Club for an event.

The park’s “open” policy does not, however, extend to pets, however.

More information about the park can be found on its Web site, www.harrybrookepark.org.