Merritt Parkway Conservancy Celebrates 25 Years of Preservation and Stewardship
FAIRFIELD, CT — The Merritt Parkway Conservancy celebrated its 25th Anniversary on October 24, 2026, with a special evening at the beautiful Guest House on the West Campus of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.
The milestone celebration highlighted the Conservancy’s many achievements over the past quarter century and honored its founders: Peter Malkin, Emil Frankel, Dee Winokur, and Peter Szabo. For 25 years, under the leadership of Peter Malkin, the Conservancy has worked in close partnership with the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) to preserve and protect the Merritt Parkway—one of the 20th century’s most significant achievements in public architecture, engineering, and landscape design.
In recognition of its 25 years of dedicated stewardship and preservation, the Conservancy was honored to receive three special citations and proclamations. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal presented a citation from the United States Senate; State Senator Matthew Blumenthal presented a citation from the Connecticut General Assembly; and Schuyler Merritt presented a proclamation on behalf of Governor Ned Lamont.
Throughout its history, the Conservancy has played a vital role as both steward and advocate for the Parkway, collaborating on major initiatives including historic bridge and service area restorations, landscape and vegetation management, and improvements to the Route 7 interchange. These efforts reflect the Conservancy’s longstanding commitment to preserving the Parkway’s distinctive architectural and landscape heritage while addressing the evolving needs of a modern transportation corridor.
The anniversary celebration brought together longtime supporters, preservation advocates, civic leaders, and community partners, many of whom have worked collaboratively over the decades to safeguard this irreplaceable historic and cultural treasure. United by a shared commitment to preservation, they continue to ensure that the Merritt Parkway—one of Connecticut’s most cherished landmarks—will enrich the region’s quality of life for generations to come.
The Merritt Parkway Conservancy extends its heartfelt gratitude to its founders, supporters, partners, and sponsors whose generosity and dedication made the 25th Anniversary Celebration such a resounding success.