Avery Memorial
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AVERY MEMORIAL 880 POQUONNOCK ROAD, GROTON CT 06340 OWNER: Town of Groton HOURS: During Daylight Hours DIRECTIONS: From I-95 N & S, Exit 87 and CT- 349 S/Clarence B Sharp Hwy to Long Hill Rd, Continue onto CT- 349 S/Clarence B Sharp Hwy, Take the Bridge St exit toward US-1/Downtown/Groton, Turn right onto Bridge St, Turn right onto Long Hill Rd, Continue straight to stay on Long Hill Rd, Turn right onto Poquonnock Rd, Destination will be on the right Park Information: The Avery Memorial Association is a family organization of descendants of Christopher Avery and his only son James who came from England to Gloucester, MA before 1642. About 1650 James came to Pequot (New London), CT. The Avery Memorial, with its granite column and bronze bust of Captain James Avery (1621-1700), founder of the Groton Averys, stands on the site of the house in Groton long known as "The Hive of the Averys." Here, the second Captain James Avery, oldest son of the founder, lived with his family from 1671 until his death in 1728. For more information, Click Here. AVERY POINT 1084 SHENNECOSSETT ROAD, GROTON CT 06340 OWNER: State of CT HOURS: During Daylight Hour DIRECTIONS: From the East: Take I-95 South to exit 87 to Route 349 South on the left for 1.8 miles. Stay straight to go onto Brandegee Avenue for 0.5 miles. Brandegee Avenue becomes Shennecossett Road, follow for 1.7 miles. End at 1084 Shenneocossett Road. From the West: Take I-95 North to merge onto Clarence B Sharp Hwy/Route 349. Stay straight onto Brandegee Avenue. Brandegee Avenue becomes Shennecossett Road. End at 1084 Shennecossett Road. Park Information: Located at the mouth of the Thames River, this 77 acre branch of the University of Connecticut offers sweeping views of Long Island Sound. The campus contains buildings that were once part of a large waterfront estate. This site is best suited for walking and provides views of Fishers Island Sound, New London Ledge Lighthouse and the Thames River. To help you reach UCONN-Avery Point, some routes leading to this site are posted with the brown and white Long Island Sound Access sign. BAKER'S COVE COASTAL ACCESS 806 SHENNECOSSETT ROAD, GROTON CT 06340 OWNER: City of Groton HOURS: During Daylight Hours DIRECTIONS: From the East: Take I-95 South to the Clarence B Sharp Highway/Route 349 South which is exit 87, follow for 1.8 miles. Stay straight onto Brandegee Avenue, continue for 0.5 miles. Brandegee Avenue becomes Shennecossett Road, follow for 1 mile. Past Baker Cover Lane on you left and parking entrance (300 feet from Baker Cove Ln) will be on you left. From the West: Take I-95 North. Merge onto Clarence B Sharp Hwy/Route 349. Stay straight onto Brandegee Avenue. Brandegee Avenue becomes Park Information: Shennecossett. Past Baker Cover Lane on you left and parking The Baker Cove Subdivision Overlook includes a public path from Shennecossett Road to the entrance (300 feet from Baker waterfront at Baker Cove. The site's waterfront offers views of a tidal marsh and its wildlife across Cove Ln) will be on you left. the cove. The 2-vehicle "parking lot" is a small roadside pull-off area immediately on your left as you enter the subdivision access road. A gravel access path leads to the overlook area. Follow the grassy area and keep the large white fence to your right to reach the overlook. BANK STREET CORNER 0 WEST MAIN STREET, GROTON CT 06340 OWNER: Town of Groton HOURS: During Daylight Hours DIRECTIONS: From I-95 N & S, Take exit 89 for Allyn St, Go South onto State Hwy 614/Allyn St, Turn left onto New London Rd, Continue onto W Main St, Turn left onto Bank St, Destination will be on the left. Park Information: BAYBERRY LANE BOAT LAUNCH 84 BAYBERRY LANE, GROTON CT 06340 OWNER: State of CT HOURS: During Daylight Hour DIRECTIONS: From the East: Take I-95 South. Take left-hand exit 87, Route 349 South to US-1 North and continue for 1.8 miles. Stay straight to go onto Brandegee Avenue and continue for 0.5 miles. Brandegee Avenue becomes Shennecossett Road, continue 1.1 miles. Turn left onto Bayberry Lane and continue for approximately 0.1 miles. Follow until reach boat launch. From the West: Take I-95 North to exit 87 which is Route 349 South. Stay straight to go onto Brandegee Avenue Brandegee Avenue becomes Shennecossett Road. Turn left onto Bayberry Lane. Follow until reach boat launch Park Information: Located between Avery Point and Jupiter Point, this site offers large and small boat launching, trailer parking and scenic views of Pine Island and Bushy Point. Floating access pier available at this site. Public parking provided. To help you reach Bayberry Lane State Boat Launch, some routes leading to this site are posted with boat launch symbol signs. BEEBE POND PARK 851 NOANK ROAD, GROTON CT 06340 OWNER: Town of Groton HOURS: During Daylight Hour DIRECTIONS: I-95 N & S: I-95 to Exit 89, go south on Allyn Street; stay on Allyn as it crosses Route 1, then becomes West Mystic Avenue. Turn right onto Route 215 (Noank Road); travel about one mile. Trail entrance is on the right just before Beebe Cove. Two alternate entrances are located off Judson and Capstan avenues. Park Information: Beebe Pond Park is a 99 acre park purchased by the Town with federal, state and local funds. It is located at the intersection of 851 Noank Road (CT Route 215) and Fishtown Road. Beebe Pond was a major source of ice for the town before the advent of refrigeration. The stone dam and ice house foundation are still present at the southern end of the pond. The trail system can be accessed from a small parking area on Noank Road or from an access point in the vicinity of 201 Judson Avenue and the southernmost point of Capstan Avenue. Trails on the southern portion of the property are narrow and rocky and travel around Beebe Pond. Gentler trails exist on the northern end of the park. Beebe Pond Park is part of the X-Town Trail, a six mile trail that connects Bluff Point State Park to Towns End. For a map of the trails in Beebe Park Park click on the Groton Trails logo to the left. BEL AIRE 0 BEL AIRE DRIVE, GROTON CT 06340 OWNER: Town of Groton HOURS: During Daylight Hours DIRECTIONS: From I-95 N & S, Take exit 89 for Allyn St, Go South onto State Hwy 614/Allyn St, Turn right at the 1st cross street onto Sandy Hollow Rd, Turn left onto Noank Ledyard Rd, Turn right onto Bel Aire Dr, Destination will be on the right Park Information: BIRCH PLAIN CREEK 25 THOMAS ROAD, GROTON CT 06340 OWNER: City of Groton HOURS: During Daylight Hour DIRECTIONS: From I-95 North / South, Take exit 87 for CT-349/Clarence B. Sharp Hwy, Continue onto CT-349 S/Clarence B Sharp Hwy, Continue straight onto Brandegee Ave, Continue onto Shennecossett Rd, Turn left onto Thomas Rd, Destination will be on the left. Park Information: This salt marsh estuarine system lies along Birch Plain Creek and offers an excellent habitat for a variety of animals. A gravel parking lot is provided and there are nice walking trails along the creek. BLUFF POINT STATE PARK 100 DEPOT ROAD, GROTON CT 06340 OWNER: State of CT HOURS: Dawn to Dusk DIRECTIONS: Coming from I-95 North: Take exit 88. Turn right onto SR 117 South. Turn right at the end onto Route 1 South. Take a left at the first light onto Depot Road. Park entrance is at the end of the road. Coming from I-95 South: Take exit 88. Turn left onto SR 117 Park Information: South. Turn right at the end Bluff Point is the last remaining significant piece of undeveloped land along the Connecticut coastline. Jutting onto Route 1 South. Take a left out into waters of Long Island Sound this wooded peninsula, measuring one and one-half miles long by one mile at the first light onto Depot wide, encompasses over 800 acres. Originally proposed for acquisition as a state recreation facility as early as 1914, it was not until 1963 that the western one-third of the land was purchased from Henry A. Gardiner III. Road. Park entrance is at the State holdings include a north-south strip of the mainland, a portion of the headland bluff fronting the Sound, end of the road. and the tombolo or sandspit forming a beach of nearly one mile in length. The beach terminates in a small, rocky island called Bushy Point. Bluff Point was designated a "Coastal Reserve" by a special act of the Connecticut legislature in 1975 to establish the area "for the purpose of preserving its native ecological associations, unique faunal and floral characteristics, geological features and scenic qualities in a condition of undisturbed integrity". Because of its Coastal Reserve designation, access to the bluff is by foot or non-motorized vehicle only. The trail to the bluff passes through wooded and open areas until the view broadens as the bluff is approached. Here vegetation is more sparse and diminutive because of wind exposure. Among the plants to be found at the headland are native beach plum, beach pea and red and white shore roses. The long, narrow beach is a geological remnant of the continental glaciers and subsequent erosion by wind and water... an ongoing process.