Visible Progress For The Midden Lookout Park

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Drone photo courtesy of Matt Stauble, Stauble Media. Click on the image to enlarge.

Our vision for the Midden Lookout Park is coming into view. This has been a core project of the Jonah Center, since 2006!

A recent drone photo by Matt Stauble shows the developing Midden Lookout Park in its summer glory. Follow along with this story by referring to the location letters A-I in the image. 

A is the main location, the Midden Cap, where you can enjoy views of the 1000-acre marshland known as the Floating Meadows, a rich habitat for fish and birds. Continue reading →

Let’s Talk Energy at the Russell Library! 

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Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to energy costs.

That’s why we are offering Let’s Talk Energy, monthly learning opportunities with Eversource at the Russell Library.

Join us on the last Monday of the month in September, October and November.
Use this LINK to access the Russell Library Event Calendar to register.

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Save the Date! Earth and Art for All: Saturday, October 17th 

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All are welcome to attend and connect with the beautiful scenery at the future Midden Lookout, located at the closed Middletown landfill. This is a free, family-friendly event with fun activities, snacks and refreshments. Read the full post for more details!

Date & Time: Saturday, October 17, 2026
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Rain Date – Sunday, October 18)
Location: 180 Johnson Street, parking at the Keating Building, activities at the top of the closed landfill.
Use this LINK to register to attend.

Continue reading →

Making Our Streets Safer

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The results of a 1-year study on how to make Middletown’s most dangerous streets safer will be shared at public information meetings on September 22 and September 24 in Middletown’s Council Chamber. Presentations by engineering firm CDM Smith will be given at 5 p.m., followed by questions and comments until 7 p.m. Continue reading →

Appreciating Our Wangunk Predecessors

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A section of “Map of The State of Connecticut Showing Indian Trails, Villages, and Sachemdoms Made For the Connecticut Society of the Colonial Dames of America” by Mathias Spiess and Hayden Griswold, 1930.

This map shows approximate locations of Wangunk camps on both sides of the Connecticut River before the settlement of Europeans in what became Middletown and Portland. (The entire statewide map may be found here.)

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Calling All Bird-Lovers

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Bird populations have been declining in Connecticut for some time. This is one reason why we are working to suppress the mugwort infestation on the midden cap and replant with wildflowers and grasses to create a pollinator- and bird-friendly environment. Continue reading →

Over 250 Middletown Homes will Lower Energy Bills without Sacrificing Comfort – Is Yours Next? 

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By the end of this year, over 250 Middletown homes will complete a home energy assessment—most by this fall.

heatsmart Middletown logo

All Middletown residents can participate in HeatSmart Middletown.

Residents who have their home assessed save $70-$100 per year on their energy bills, and additional upgrades can lead to even more savings.

How are we reaching 250 homes in the year of America 250?  

Here’s something to celebrate! With help from Lisa Liesener, Middletown’s Recycling and Sustainability Coordinator, we connected with the Middletown Housing Authority. Executive Director Ben Bare has committed to completing energy assessments at Housing Authority homes in the Rockwood Acres, Sunset Ridge, and Santangelo Circle neighborhoods.  

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UPDATE: Putting the “lookout” into Midden Lookout Park

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EXCITING NEWS!

Our Sustainable CT crowdfunding campaign to build the Wildlife Viewing Shelter at the Midden is COMPLETE!

To everyone who contributed and volunteered throughout this campaign, we would like to thank you once again for your overwhelming support.

With donations received (online and offline), we have updated our budget to use additional funds for more site prep which includes Mugwort suppression, ground prep, landscaping, and water capture from the roof of the shelter.

Building will begin next spring, once site prep is complete. We will share updates and exciting pictures as we reach major milestones!

With gratitude,  

Kristen Colombo, John Hall & The Jonah Center Board and Staff 

You can still visit our Lookout Fundraising site to learn about the planned Wildlife Viewing Shelter.

The rest of the long-term project has many elements, so donations and volunteers are always welcome and appreciated. Just note your intent for the “Midden” on any donation to add to that fund.

If you are not familiar with this project, welcome to the effort! We have more details published on a dedicated webpage under Initiatives > Midden Lookout Park and Trails.

Coginchaug Carp

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Watch carp spawning in the Coginchaug River just upstream from the canoe and kayak launch in Middletown — a Jonah Center project completed in 2014.  It’s the perfect place and time of year to see many amazing forms of life out in the Floating Meadows.  Our thanks to videographer Phil LeMontagne for this video. 

Progress with Partners at the Midden

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Since our last update, we’ve been coordinating with amazing partners to activate spring and summer work at the Midden. 

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What does it mean to be NiCER?

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The Jonah Center is proud to be one of the 29 organizations who have joined NiCER (the New Clean Energy Revolution). It’s the first coordinated statewide clean energy movement in CT! Take this survey to BE NiCER! and contribute to collective action for a clean energy future.

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Spring & Summer Paddle

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We need volunteer paddlers to help us remove invasive water chestnut plants from local waterways. Ready to paddle and pull? Keep reading for dates and registration details.  

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