Friends of Fernridge Park, Inc.

My purpose in starting this GoFundMe page is two-fold: to raise funds for a bench and tree to be installed in Fernridge Park in memory of Julia Fox and to support improvements to the park.

Julia was a tireless community organizer, strategic thinker and talented writer, who grew up around the corner from Fernridge Park.  From her early years at Braeburn through her Conard graduation, she was a person who thought of others, their feelings, and what she could do for them.  She loved hiking and the outdoors, perhaps because of time spent during her early years exploring and playing in our park.  As a graduate of Wesleyan University and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Julia felt a personal responsibility to work towards building a better world with on-the-ground action.  She would want to support her neighborhood park.  She would want everyone to enjoy and preserve its natural beauty and to have a peaceful place to play, breathe, and reflect.  And she certainly would want us to plant trees.  I think a bench with a beautiful tree is a fitting tribute to her memory as well as providing support for the mission of the Friends of Fernridge Park (FoFP). 

On Saturday, June 16, 2018, I will be participating in the Second Annual Park-to-Park walk with some of Julia’s family members and other members of the FoFP, a non-profit park advocacy organization that works to maintain and enhance the natural beauty and recreational resources of Fernridge Park.  In 2013 a plan was commissioned to create a vision of the future of the park.  The final plan’s central feature, and the FoFP’s top priority, is a Promenade or circular walkway around the pool that will connect with other pathways, creating a central hub.  With help from the Town of West Hartford, construction of the circular walk will begin this summer.  The bench and tree for Julia will not only be a tribute to her, but will be a beautiful addition to the Promenade.

Please sponsor my 15-mile walk this year with a donation of any amount.  Thank you for your support. 

Anne Goico
Friends of Fernridge Park Board Member

Last year, we embarked on a quest to walk to each park in West Hartford in a day and raise $10,000 on behalf of Friends of Fernridge Park  for our first park improvement project.  Although we fell short of our fundraising goal, a group of park friends did complete the 15 mile trek through town on a pleasant summer day in June.  Inspired by our success and the enthusiastic feedback we received,  we are launching the campaign for our Second Annual Park to Park Walk scheduled for Saturday, June 16th (raindate, June 23rd).  We plan on setting foot in Fernridge, Wolcott, Beachland, Kennedy Memorial, Vanderbilt and Eisenhower Parks.

Founded in 2011, Friends of Fernridge Park is a non-profit, park advocacy organization that works to maintain and enhance the natural beauty and recreational resources of Fernridge Park in partnership with the Town of West Hartford. In 2013 we commissioned a plan to create a vision for the future of the park . The final plan’s central feature, and the Friends top priority, is a Promenade around the pool, 1,000 feet in circumference and 8 feet wide. The Promenade will tie together the many paths leading into the park into a unified whole. It will give direction to and unity of the park’s vital center.   We are planning on starting the project this summer in collaboration with the Town - news we are thrilled to share!

Once again, we are very excited about this project and very grateful for whatever financial support you can give.

Thank you for being a friend of Fernridge Park!!

Team WH Park Walkers

ps.  Please consider joining us for all or some of the walk.  We had a great time walking, talking and taking in the sights of West Hartford.

On June 17th, I am planning on doing a Park to Park walk to raise funds and awareness for Fernridge Park located in West Hartford, CT.  I happen to be the treasurer of Friends of Fernridge Park, but I'm also a neighbor and a frequent visitor to this wonderful town resource.  My goal is $10K which is a significant amount but so is my trek! My itinerary is to start at Fernridge Park at sunrise, proceed to Wolcott (breakfast), Beachland (coffee snack), Kennedy (lunch), Vanderbilt (afternoon refreshment), Eisenhower (more afternoon refreshment), Westmoor (yet another snack) and return to Fernridge (party time). Google maps says the distance is 15 miles and I'm setting my pace at 2mi/hr with ample time at each park for a rest (and snack). If the weather is really severe (t-storms, tornadoes!), then I'll do the walk on June 24th.  Alongside me, hopefully, will be my four- legged walking partner, Delia and a few two-legged friends as well!  As far as I know, this is a first for the Town of West Hartford.

Wondering why I'm undertaking this venture?  Well, Friends of Fernridge Park is embarking on a campaign to raise money to restore and improve paths in the park.  Founded in 2011, Friends of Fernridge Park is a non-profit, park advocacy organization that works to maintain and enhance the natural beauty and recreational resources of Fernridge Park in partnership with the Town of West Hartford.  In 2013 we commissioned a plan to create a vision for the future of the park . The final plan’s central feature, and the Friends top priority, is a Promenade around the pool, 1,000 feet in circumference and 8 feet wide. The Promenade will tie together the many paths leading into the park into a unified whole. It will give direction to and unity of the park’s vital center.   Our first project will cost upwards of $100,000 and I want to get the campaign off on the right foot!!

I am excited about this project and I hope you will be, too!  Please support our effort!  Any donation will be gratefully received.