As part of the Gungywamp Design Project, a Management Strategy addresses a number of issues including: 1) the current lack of funds for site maintenance under either YMCA or Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) ownership; 2) the funding and maintenance requirements implicated in the successful execution of the Design Project; and 3) the long-term preservation of the stones.
First, the Management Strategy devises a structure for ownership and site management that does not name the DEP or the YMCA as sole owner of the property. Instead, Gungywamp becomes a National or State Trust with the ability to acquire and manage sites in the State that are similar - those that are rich in history, culture and ecological significance. Different from the State, the Trust has the capacity to form private/public partnerships, fundraise from a variety of sources, and generate funds from site programs, as proposed in the design interventions. The Trust is able to implement a design project such as the one proposed by the Gungywamp Studio. Currently, Connecticut's open space initiative does not include major structural development on public sites. The Trust, as proposed, has the mandate to actively engage the public in management and use in new and creative ways; it has the mandate to ensure financial self-sufficiency for site operations and maintenance.
With a National or State Trust in place, the development of an active Friends of Gungywamp Group will aid in site maintenance. The Friends of Gungywamp Group consists of a myriad of interested parties. Throughout our research, we spoke with many interested individuals and groups about their level of interest and support in preserving the historical and cultural landscape of the site. Interest is high, and our recommendation encourages the involvement of these parties as a step towards securing a future for the site. The first step is to establish and facilitate a productive discourse between community members, government officials, and other stakeholders. The complete report details a suggested meeting agenda and invitation list.
Similar to the local interest piqued in public meetings, we propose a design competition, sponsored by the Trust, focusing on the development of the Gungywamp Design Project including the– Cynosure, Pavilion, Origin Trail, and other site components – which together bring additional regional attention and may encourage tax-deductible contributions.
The Management Strategy utilizes the Pavilion and its programmatic elements to generate funds for the long-term viability of the project. We conducted several case studies and local interviews and determined that there is a need for library programs. Additionally, the Gungywamp Society needs a permanent location to house local historical materials, including site artifacts. The Pavilion will lease space to the Mystic/Noank Library for their expanding historical collections. Currently, local historical collections are spread between the Mystic/Noank Library, Groton Public Library, the Bill Memorial Library, the Historical Society, the Gungywamp Society, other organizations and individual citizens. The Mystic/Noank Library has the largest collection of local historical materials and hopes to establish a depository for the area's disparate collections. In recent years, a committee convened to discuss the possibility of consolidating collections, but discussions stalled due to lack of leadership, a facility to house the collections and funds to hire staff to curate the collections. The Management Strategy provides structure so that these common hurdles can be overcome.
The money generated from the operation of a local library and historical collection is split between the Trust and the Mystic/Noank Library. The Trust uses funds from leasing the Pavilion for site maintenance. The Library uses fines, membership dues, and program fees for operational costs.
We recommend that the remainder of the Gungywamp parcel be managed by a public/private partnership. For example, the Nature Conservancy can be secured by contract to clear over-grown vegetation throughout the network of trails. A preservation group can invest in and employ model conservation techniques to protect the stone structures. In addition to professional organizations, we recommend that volunteers from the Friends of Gungywamp Group, local Navy organizations, and youth groups act as site monitors and stewards.
The Management Strategy calls for the site to be listed on the local and National Historic Registers.
The parcels adjoining the site are critical to the preservation of the entire area known as Gungywamp Swamp. For example, ownership differences split Latham Lake into two separate parcels. That parcel although owned by a Gungywamp Society member, is not yet assured preservation into perpetuity. The Management Strategy recommends that the Trust approach additional land acquisition and procurement of conservation easements on the adjoining parcels in phases.
The complete Gungywamp Studio report (available in printed format) details our findings, design proposals, and recommendations. The Management Strategy is further developed with a proposed structure for the Trust, suggested meeting agendas, a list of stakeholders, and possible funding sources for its long-term success. The Management Strategy relies heavily on public participation, communication and science-based adaptive management.
For questions or a copy of the printed report, contact Christine Graziano Maurer 215.868.4367 onward_rome@yahoo.com.
