Maintenance Alert for Midden Visitors – The TOP of the Midden was treated with an organic herbicide on 6/16. The area is closed to visitors until 6/19. Learn more here.
A new wildlife viewing area and sanctuary for Middletown at the heart of where the Coginchaug and the Mattabesset River meet.
EXCITING NEWS! As of May 21st, we have launched a Sustainable CT Matching Fund crowdfunding campaign to build the Wildlife Viewing Shelter at the Midden!
You are invited to visit our Lookout Fundraising site to learn about the project, donate and/or volunteer to get involved! We need to raise at least $6,000 from at least 60 generous supporters in 30 days to get the full benefit of matching funds. Thank you for helping us meet our goal!
UPDATE! – We have surpassed our initial goal and qualified for the Sustainable CT match thanks to strong community support for this project. Additional funds will be used to support site prep in and around the shelter.
Join the Trail Blazers distribution list to get involved. We welcome anyone who would like to spend some time outside with us, cutting, weeding, planting, and building this community space in Middletown’s North End.
Explore this page to learn more about the Midden project.
Use the links below to get to the info that interests you!
The Project Plan – Summary of goals and who’s involved.
Next Event – Events will be posted as they are scheduled.
Learn More – Featured topic is Mugwort. We’ll update this as the project continues.
NEW! Short Videos – Sharing the history and hope for the future of this area.
Contact Us – To share questions or comments.
The Project Plan
Imagine yesterday’s trash turned into a treasure for our community.
At Middletown’s retired landfill, visitors are treated to stunning views of three rivers, a 1000-acre tidal marshland, the Arrigoni Bridge, and hills of neighboring towns. This quarter-mile path (rising 80 feet to the top) is next to the city’s transfer station and the Keating Building. It even has its own soundtrack…bird songs!
This is a transformation in progress that’s worth seeing for yourself.
In partnership with the City of Middletown, the Jonah Center for Earth and Art staff is leading this transformation with help from experts and volunteers.
Community involvement and support is welcome and truly needed.
Join the Trail Blazers distribution list to get involved. We’ll send updates and periodic calls for help to this group of Trail Blazers throughout the year. Join us for any work parties that fit your schedule.
This project will be funded by various community grants first, followed by individual donors. We will be grateful for support during fundraising campaigns and events later this year.
Next Event
6/17 at 6:30 PM and 6/18 at 9:00 AM – Cover & Conquer Mugwort!
Our next mission: Lay out cardboard to prep for woodchip delivery.
Sign up here to let us know you’ll be there.
Learn More – Spring Topic is Mugwort
Our first big challenge on the Midden is to reclaim the area from an overgrowth of Mugwort.
Learning about Mugwort
What is Mugwort? Mugwort is a very common and prolific invasive weed that chokes out other native plants. It emerges in areas that have been disturbed where native plants are not intentionally planted or maintained. It creates a barrier for paths and critically limits the biodiversity of the area.
What’s the big deal? Can’t we just mow it down? Suppressing and eventually eliminating Mugwort will take years of dedicated tactics. We will be working with the Middletown Garden Club and invasive species experts to plan and support a more diverse ecosystem. This will help our bird population sing with joy and improve this habitat for all other creatures who call the Midden home.
This is a test patch of our mugwort suppression approach! We have cut and treated this small area with an approved, organic soapy acid. This is applied to the leaves and does not seep into the soil.
When we treat a larger area, we’ll close it off to walkers for a few days. This will let the product do its work and prevents people from tracking it off the site.
Learn even more from our past articles that show our progress from our first public walks to when we got the blessing from Mayor Gene Nocera and the Common Council to move forward. (Click to expand this list.)
May-June 2025 Walking Parties in May and June
July 2025 July Work Party to Tackle Mugwort
August 2025 – Walk with Mayor
December 2025 – Common Council Resolution & Drone video
February 2026 – Spring 2026 work parties
What is a Midden?
Quite literally, A midden is a refuse heap. This recreation area exists due to decades of town trash deposits that created the mound we stand on now. We are reclaiming and restoring this area to heal from those old land use practices.
Photo Credits this page: Mick Bolduc, Kristen Colombo and Heather Kennedy
This project is made possible by partnerships with Jonah Center volunteers, The Middletown Garden Club, City of Middletown Departments of Land Use, Public Works and Economic Development. And with landscape design and invasive species expertise from Kathy Connelly, Speaking of Landscapes, LLC.
Special thanks: to Plummer Landscaping for mowing of the cap area, to Matt Stauble, Stauble Media for the drone photography and to Mick Bolduc for event and nature photography.