Since 1638, the New Haven Green has served as the center of New Haven life.  It is a place of history but also serves to this day as a gathering space for New Haven.  Many have enjoyed special events, historical moments, and everyday life on the Green throughout New Haven's existence.  

 The proposed improvement program seeks to enhance the New Haven Green by creating spaces and destinations that attract people to stay on the Green on a daily basis, rather than only for special events or passing through the Green.  The improvements center on three ideas: reconnecting the two halves of the Green by eliminating through motor vehicle traffic on Temple St, developing a food amenity space, and creating a play garden exciting for children and families.  Further supporting improvements include pedestrian/traffic safety interventions around the Green, publicly accessible restrooms, and better pathways/lighting through the Green. 

Concepts were first shared with the public on December 10, 2024 at a workshop at 200 Orange St.  To see the materials shared at the event, see link below:

New Haven Green Concepts 12-10-24 - Original Materials from 12/10/2024 (see updates below)

 UPDATE July 2025:

Thank you to all who have provided feedback over the last few months since the December, 2024 meeting where we first previewed ideas for the New Haven Green! 

We greatly appreciate your notes, comments, calls, emails, letters, discussions, and images.  They have been very helpful as we refine our concepts and work with the stakeholders to improve the earlier concept and share the conceptual plan.  The plan represents a subset of the ideas first presented at the public meeting, and are intended to be responsive to many of the comments we received.  Please see the linked concept plan below for details.  Here is a quick summary of the major themes and changes from earlier ideas:

• Reduce the scope of improvements on the Upper Green to focus primarily on access into the Upper Green, with the additional of a focal point at the intersection of paths to highlight the Upper Green’s history as a cemetery. 

• Revise Temple Street to reinforce the design and feel of the roadway back to its historical appearance, while maintaining and expanding parking for the Churches on the Green and allowing motor vehicle traffic through Temple Street.

• Enhance the apron around the fountain and move the planned food kiosk/public bathrooms closer to Church Street to better preserve viewsheds on the Green and welcome people into the Green. 

• Address drainage issues and ponding particularly in the stone dust path by providing continuous paver surfaces at the entry nodes to the Green, similar to the Bennett Fountain area. 

• Eliminate of the concrete stage platform and children’s play garden. 

Please feel free to reach out with any feedback or questions about the updated concept plan.  We are still early in the design process with much design work to be completed, and your feedback is greatly appreciated!

 Revised New Haven Green Concepts July 2025