Seaside Park

Seaside Park is a 325-acre coastal facility extending 2.5 miles along Long Island Sound and Black Rock Harbor in Connecticut. The grounds contain sports fields, a bathing beach with bathhouses, picnic zones, and walking trails that follow the water's edge.

The grounds were designed after the Civil War by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, with P.T. Barnum donating the initial 35 acres in 1864. Its creation by renowned landscape architects established it as an early public coastal park for the region.

The William Hunt Perry Memorial Arch, designed by Henry Bacon (architect of the Lincoln Memorial) and built in 1918, marks the park's focal point. It reflects how the place has served as a gathering and memorial site for the community.

The park is easy to navigate with designated areas for different activities spread along the shore. Weather and water conditions vary with the seasons, and some pathways can be affected by tides and seasonal changes.

Fayerweather Island, connected to the park by breakwater rocks, holds a historic lighthouse that guided ships into Black Rock Harbor from 1823 to 1932. This small island area offers visitors a glimpse of the area's maritime past and remains a quiet spot with historical importance today.

Location: Connecticut

Architects: Frederick Law Olmsted

GPS coordinates: 41.15900,-73.20200

Latest update: December 10, 2025 20:00