Mission
The mission of the Friends of Seaside State Park is to protect, promote and enhance the Park’s dynamic coastal habitat, and to preserve its architectural heritage.
About Us
The Board of Directors of Friends of Seaside State Park, Inc. is led by the great granddaughter of the late Cass Gilbert, architect of the two main buildings at Seaside, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Others of his most famous buildings including the Woolworth Building in New York City, the United States Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. and the state capitol buildings of Arkansas, Minnesota, and West Virginia. Little known is the fact that he actually stopped work on the Supreme Court in order to complete Seaside's Infirmary on time.
Seaside's Story
Seaside State Park originated as a recovery center for tuberculosis patients in the 1930s and served various roles in CT State human services and healthcare into the 1980s when the facility was finally closed. In 2017 the grounds were designated as a State Park. The Friends of Seaside State Park, Inc. (FOS) was established in 2018 to act as an advocate for protection and preservation of the newly established Seaside State Park in Waterford, CT. The members of the Friends of Seaside are devoted to promoting and preserving the natural environment and the legacy of the historic buildings on this unique piece of shoreline in southeast CT.
Our Vision
Friends of Seaside State Park looks forward to working with the State of CT to determine a future for the park that focuses on the core concepts contained within its mission statement. We believe it is important to protect this unique and dynamic coastal habitat while enhancing the park’s new fundamental role as open space for our citizens. In addition to the beloved ospreys, whose nest is being carefully moved, the buildings at Seaside have historic architectural significance, and retain the legacy of their renowned architect, Cass Gilbert. They tell a unique story that deserves to be fully documented and remembered. Please join us in this mission.
Please Help Us Advocate for Seaside, Document the Buildings & Improve the Park
Minimum Membership dues $20. Additional donations are tax deductible
