Pond Meadow was once managed as a series of brush pastures surrounding a wetland. The adjacent Comstock Park was built as baseball field for the community by the Comstock Cheney Piano Company in the late 1800s. By 1965, the southern and northern brush pastures appear to have been abandoned, and a mixed hardwood forest grew into these areas. An unverified story of Pond Meadow is that in the early 20th century a circus came to town and an elephant got loose. It was finally apprehended mired in the muck of the wetland.
Many of the 33 species of trees identified in this preserve have identification labels attached to them. These trees include tulip poplar, American elm, sassafras, beech, birch, ash and four species of oak. Along upland drainages, spicebush, skunk cabbage, and marsh marigold are common. A number of the hardwood trees have been aged at over 100 years old. The understory is composed of witch hazel, highbush blueberry, and azalea. There is a rare American chestnut on the southern end near the old logging road.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) stocks the Falls River annually in late March downstream of the trailhead bridge.
The trail is typically walked as a counter-clockwise loop starting at the trailhead bridge by the gazebo. The trail includes two short spurs, one a boardwalk, with contemplative benches.
Our preserve rules and dog policy can be found on the Essex Land Trust website.
In Ivoryton at the far end of Park Road which is off Walnut Street from Route 9, take Exit 3 and head west on Route 154/Middlesex Turnpike/Main Street. Continue straight onto Route 602 towards Ivoryton. Turn left onto Comstock Avenue. Take a quick right on Walnut Road and immediately a left onto Park Road. Park entrance is at the end of Park Road.
Success! A new password has been emailed to you.
