Quinnipiac Makes $700K Payment To North Haven For Playgrounds

NORTH HAVEN, CT — Quinnipiac University President John L. Lahey presented North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda with a check for $700,000 during a press conference at the first selectman’s office Monday in Memorial Town Hall.

The check represents the university’s voluntary payment of approximately $565,000 to the town and the approximately $135,000 the university pays the town in taxes, according to a press release. Freda said the money will be used to build a new playground at the Montowese Elementary School and an inclusive handicapped-accessible playscape at Ridge Road School.

“Quinnipiac has enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with the Town of North Haven, where we have invested more than $350 million since 2007 to develop our North Haven Campus,” Lahey said in a press release. “This voluntary payment is our way of showing our appreciation for all that the town has done to support our efforts to develop the North Haven Campus, which is home to five of our nine schools (medicine, nursing, health sciences, education and law) and our information services department. In addition, last year, we opened a $2 million research laboratory on the North Haven Campus.”

Read more from the press release below:

Freda said, “This voluntary payment continues Quinnipiac University’s ongoing commitment to the town, supporting our community projects, and bringing funds to grass roots programs that have created a ground swell of appreciation and gratitude from our residents and children who have benefited from their philanthropic contributions. I appreciate Quinnipiac University’s continued generosity.”

With this $700,000, Quinnipiac has now given North Haven about $1.6 million over the last three years. Among the projects in North Haven that have been funded with the money are the installation of lights at the town’s softball field and construction of a new playground at Green Acres Elementary School.

Pictured: Quinnipiac University President John L. Lahey, left, presented North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda with a check for $700,000 on March 26. The money will be used to build a new playground at the Montowese Elementary School, and an inclusive handicapped-accessible playscape at Ridge Road School. Contributed photo by Autumn Driscoll of Quinnipiac University.