Wolfe Park is comprised of 379 acres of parkland, approximately one-half of which has been acquired in the years since the late 1960s when TPA first prepared a master plan for a multi-purpose municipal park. From the beginning the Master Plan provided for active and passive recreation uses in what has become the core area of the park, including the creation of a man-made lake as the result of a town-sponsored operation to excavate and sell sand and gravel from the western portion of the site. TPA assisted the Town with obtaining the state/federal grant that was used to develop the eastern portion of the park in 1973 in accord with plans and specifications prepared by TPA, and designed the improvements that brought the 16 acre man-made Great Hollow Lake on-line for community use. Program elements included a beach/swimming area, river realignment, perimeter trail connecting Wolfe Park and Great Hollow, boat launch, bathhouse/pavilion, tot play area, picnic area, open play area, storm drainage improvements and entrance road and parking improvements. TPA also completed the Finding of No Significant Impact in accordance with the requirements of the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act.
Over the years, TPA has been called upon to modify the Master Plan as additional properties have been acquired or donated. Today the Park offers a range of activities, including 8 tennis courts (4 lighted), 2 lit basketball courts, 7 ball fields and 4 soccer fields; a 25 meter outdoor swimming pool with bathhouse; hiking trails and picnic areas for groups and families; a 700 foot beach, swimming, fishing, and non-motorized boating at Great Hollow Lake; 3 playgrounds; concessions and vending area; and parking. A 4.1 mile section of the Housatonic Railbed trail, also designed by TPA, passes through the park. After 30 years Wolfe Park continues to grow and serve the community. In 2002, TPA completed a plan for expansion of the developed portion of the park to provide additional ballfields, extend the walking trail system and provide a multi-purpose park structure. More recently, TPA has been involved with the site design and planning for demolition of the existing pool and construction of the new swimming facility. TPA is currently working on construction drawings for two multi-use fields. The project received the Landmark Legacy Award from the Connecticut Chapter of ASLA in 2021 in recognition of its timeless and well-received contribution to community health and well-being.
WOLFE PARK
MONROE, CT
Birds-eye Aerial of the Park
Wetland Boardwalk Trail
Plans for New Recreational Fields
Birds-eye Aerial of the Park