Anderson Pond
With generous support from the Harlan & Lois Anderson Foundation, the Pond was dredged and restored and the surrounding areas were extensively planted with native specimens.
Project Background
The pond was part of the Olmsteds’ original park design. It played an important role during winter when large blocks of ice were cut and then stored in the ice house for later consumption. Since then, generations of New Canaan children have enjoyed fishing and, of course, sledding on the hill above the pond during the winter months.
By 2019, however, the pond badly needed dredging, and the margins were threatened by invasive plants and vines.The pond edges and spillway on the south end had deteriorated.
Project Details
In 2019, the Conservancy initiated an ambitious project to reclaim the pond. With the generous support of the Harlan and Lois Anderson Foundation and matching Town funding, the pond was dredged, a new spillway and wooden bridge were constructed, and the edges were restored. Overgrown areas to the east of the house were cleared to establish the current viewline, and in 2020 an observation deck was installed on the East side of the pond. An aerator pump was also installed in the pond to mitigate the risk of algae. Finally, significant new plantings were added on both ends and on the east side with selected benches from which visitors can contemplate the pond.
The result is a genuine sense of renewal with a beautiful view both from the house and from the several benches that adorn both sides of the pond. It is no coincidence that this area of the Park now proves the most popular for visitors young and old alike.
Look out for the dedication stone and plaque dedicated to the memory of Harlan and Lois Anderson, and in particular, the frogs that adorn the plaque!
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