Former School Site Opens as Branford Hills Park

In 1955 the Branford Hills Elementary School on Jefferson Road opened and remained an active school until closing 29 years later, in 1991. The building was used for various activities, such as voting for District 4 and storage, but deteriorated over time.

In 2015, the town appropriated $560,000 for the building’s demolition, which took place in July 2016. An unsuccessful effort was made to develop the property when Republican RTM Majority Leader Ray Ingraham (R‑5th) sought to use the Branford Hills school site for a renovated Parkside Village, an affordable housing project. Ingraham’s effort failed.

In May the former school site was designated by the town to become a new park, and the town’s Recreation Department began the process of converting the 13 acres into a park for the Branford Hills residents, many of whom live in nearby condos.

On Sunday local volunteers held a party for the park. The celebration drew a steady crowd of residents, former students, former teaching staff and town officials to the park. The new park sign stands next to the original school flagpole.

Entertainment was provided by ​“Germanio,” a singer from New York.

A portion of the program was devoted to the memories of the Branford Hills school.Terry Tammero (pictured) taught at Branford Hills during all 29 years the school was open,1962 to 1991. She spoke of those days.

Former students returned to the place where they studied as kids, including Maryann Amore, who has served on the town’s RTM. She spoke of those days.

Pictures of the former school were on display.

Roberta Gill-Brooks remembers loving her early days at the school. She was a member of the kindergarten class in 1968. She is pictured here in the fourth row, third from the right. Back in those days there were 34 students in a kindergarten class.

The Branford Early Childhood Collaborative had a tent at the event. 

Children’s activities included a 12U youth soccer game, pickup basketball, flying high on the swing set, and even an impromptu kickball softball game on the upper field. Several food vendors served up a variety of menu items. The 12U soccer game was played between Branford and Ansonia on the new field.

Here a youngster ​‘flies high’ on the parks swing set.

“We were very happy to have another park for the residents of Branford,” said Alex Palluzzi, Jr., director of the Recreation department. ​“This park is a great addition to this area of town, which has a large population so close by. We’re confident it will get a lot of use and will be very busy.”

Improvements include new fencing surrounding the perimeter, a regulation-sized youth soccer field, and a refurbished swing set and slide, both of which have a new surface to make them both safer. And the basketball court has been resurfaced and painted to look new as well. Kids were out there practicing their foul shooting.

“We are very happy town officials kept this property for a park,” said Victoria ​“Tory” Armentrout (pictured) one of the organizers of the celebration held last Sunday. ​“We have a very diverse population living here (Branford Hills), and this will bring the children, parents and neighbors closer together when they come here to play.

“We are grateful to Selectman Jamie Cosgrove and Recreation Director Alex Palluzzi for all they did to make this day possible,” said Armentrout.

“There are lots of happy faces here this afternoon.” 
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