Neighbors who live in the Elm City’s Fair Haven neighborhood might notice a change of scenery at Quinnipiac River Park.

With city planning and a $250,000 state grant, the walkways were paved, water fountains were installed, and the riverbank was improved to prevent erosion.

It’s come a long way since the area was an industrial site in the 1960s.

“Decades and decades ago, this was a junkyard and it’s just shocking to see what is here now, this beautiful site,” New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said.

The area eventually became a park that saw a massive cleanup a few years ago. What was once a dump is now frequented by visitors young and old, on wheels and on four legs.

“I’d be the only guy running laps around ad now morning, night, afternoon, there’s people running, there’s people having picnics,” neighbor Eric Murray said.

Elicker said a nicer park with lighting and clean, open space can make visitors feel safe.

“People are less likely to engage in crime if they think that there’s a lot of people to witness and they could get caught,” he said.

The work isn’t done yet. Future plans include picnic tables, a new patio area and welcome gardens. The walkways will become a part of a trail that goes around Fair Haven, according to the mayor.

That requires more funding and the continued work of neighbors who have been keeping the park clean.

The Friends of Quinnipiac River Park take pride in maintaining the beauty here by planting flowers and trees, taking care of them in every season.

“I love planting, especially for the neighborhood,” Sadi Vidro, a member of the Friends of Quinnipiac River Park. “I saw the, the outcome of it and that’s what keeps me going.”

Some trees are decorated with a cross and a message that might stop you on your walk. One tree is planted in memory of Michael Caliz.

“Our friend Rita, this is a tree she planted in memory of her son and Rita comes back faithfully every year,” Tom Burwell, the founder of the Friends of Quinnipiac River Park, said. “She’s definitely has taken ownership in the tree and she’s become a staple. She’s been like a mom to us in the group as well.”

Phase one of the project is complete. Concept plans for phase 2 focus on the northern end of the park.

Several Connecticut swimming areas are closed due to the potential of bacteria in the water.

The heavy rain over the past few days is the reason for the concern.

Swimming is prohibited at the West Beach at Rocky Neck State Park, Sherwood Island State Park, Silver Sands State Park in Milford, and Chatfield Hollow State Park in Killingworth.

Water testing at those state parks will be redone on Wednesday with results back on Thursday.

Clinton has also suspended swimming and other water activities at its town beach until further notice. The beach remains open and all other amenities are available, according to the town.

There is no swimming allowed at all Stratford beaches until Friday, according to the Stratford Health Department.

The East Shore Health Department says beaches in East Haven, as well as Clark/Johnson Beach, Stony Creek, and Branford Point in Branford are also closed to swimming. Water samples are being taken on Wednesday and the results are expected on Thursday.

by Michelle Gagliardi, CT Mirror
July 8, 2026

​As Connecticut grapples with a persistent childcare crisis, parents are facing a perfect storm: years-long waitlists, skyrocketing tuition at corporate centers, and the grueling logistics of balancing a 9-to-5 with a rigid pickup schedule.

​But while the public debate often centers on expanding massive commercial childcare centers, a quiet, deeply rooted alternative is keeping Connecticut’s working families afloat. It is called family childcare —licensed, professional early childhood care operated out of a provider’s home.

​Far from a fallback plan, family childcare is increasingly the gold standard for parents seeking a blend of high-quality early education, financial sanity, and emotional peace of mind. For families navigating the Nutmeg State’s early childhood landscape, here is why choosing a home-based provider is a powerful, beneficial choice.

​A true “home away from home” environment

​For infants and young toddlers, the transition from a parent’s arms to a bustling commercial facility can be jarring. Large centers often feature bright fluorescent lights, high-density classrooms, and a rotating cast of staff members.

​Family childcare offers the exact opposite: a cozy, familiar home environment. Children learn, play, and nap in spaces that feel like an extension of their own living rooms. This familiar setting significantly lowers stress levels for young children, helping them feel secure enough to explore, socialise, and learn.

​Consistency of care (no staff turnover)

​One of the most disruptive aspects of modern commercial childcare is staff turnover. Because of industry-wide low wages, center teachers frequently move on, meaning a child might have three or four different primary caregivers in a single year.

​In a family childcare setting, the business owner is the teacher. Your child builds a deep, secure attachment to one consistent educator from infancy until they drop their backpacks off for kindergarten. This continuity of care is crucial for healthy emotional and neurological development in a child’s first 1,000 days.

​Mixed-age groupings mirror real life

​Unlike traditional centers that rigidly separate children by age into 12-month increments, family childcare homes naturally feature mixed-age groups. Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers interact throughout the day.

​This model offers profound developmental benefits:

• ​For younger children: They learn language, social skills, and behavioral cues rapidly by watching and mimicking older peers.
• ​For older children: They develop empathy, patience, and leadership skills by helping and looking out for the littler ones.
• ​For siblings: Brothers and sisters can stay together in the same program, rather than being split up into different wings of a building.

​Unmatched flexibility for working class families

​Connecticut’s economy doesn’t just run on a traditional 9-to-5 schedule. Shift workers, healthcare professionals, first responders, and service industry employees are routinely left behind by corporate childcare centers that charge massive penalties if a parent is five minutes past a 5:30 p.m. closing time.

​Home-based providers understand the realities of working families. Because they operate independently, many offer more flexible drop-off and pick-up windows, and some accommodate non-traditional hours or part-time schedules that commercial centers reject.

​Financial sanity in a high-cost state

​Let’s talk numbers. Connecticut routinely ranks among the top ten most expensive states for childcare in the nation, with center-based infant care averaging well over $18,000 a year.

​Family childcare providers offer a much-needed financial breathing room. Because their overhead costs are lower —utilizing their own homes rather than renting commercial real estate— they are able to pass those savings on to parents. On average, family childcare in Connecticut costs 20% to 35% less than center-based care, without sacrificing licensing rigor, safety standards, or educational quality.

​The state standard: Licensed family childcare providers in Connecticut are strictly regulated by the Office of Early Childhood (OEC). They undergo background checks, regular home safety inspections, and must meet the exact same core health, safety, and CPR training requirements as large-scale centers.

​Elevating the profession

​For too long, outdated stereotypes dismissed home-based providers as “babysitters.” Today’s family childcare providers are micro-entrepreneurs, early childhood experts, and community anchors. Many hold degrees in early education, participate in Connecticut’s Sparkler developmental screening initiative, and build robust, play-based curriculums tailored to individual children rather than a corporate mandate.

​As state lawmakers debate how to build a more resilient care infrastructure, they must recognize that family childcare isn’t just an alternative —it is a cornerstone of the system. For Connecticut parents seeking community, affordability, and a nurturing environment where their child is truly known, the best choice might just be right down the street.

Michelle Gagliardi is leader of the CT Family Child Care Coalition.

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