Stamford, Connecticut is the definition of a child friendly city. It’s a safe place for kids to grow up, to learn, to explore, and to 
become individuals. Children have a huge variety of places to go, both by themselves and with their families. Stamford has the conveniences of a large city, but the feel of a small town. This is a city where communities come together help and protect each other, and their children.
Child Friendly Places
Long Island Sound provides a huge array of recreational opportunities, and Stamford has an incredible variety of child friendly spaces including libraries, parks, museums, restaurants and plazas. The public library system is the largest in the state, with multiple branches and locations throughout the city. Other child friendly places include Stamford Children’s Museum, Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Stamford Observatory, Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens, Soundwaters Community Center for Environmental Education.
Mixed Use Neighborhoods
The city has also been pushing the development of mixed use neighborhoods since 2008. Neighborhoods like these are particularly child friendly because kids only have to travel short distances to reach almost anything. This creates a very different, and sometimes safer, feel than walking through blocks of residential areas before reaching any businesses.
“I’m still impressed with my neighborhood. Everyone is so friendly and we all wave when we pass by.”
–“Young Family”
Mixed use neighborhoods also make parents feel more secure about letting their children go out by themselves because they have better connections with the people who live and work in their immediate community. Parents know that they can let their children walk to get ice cream, and that they will be surrounded and watched by people who will look out for them.
Mill River Park
Mill River Park is a shining example of why Stamford is an excellent city for children. Mill River, which runs through downtown Stamford, used to be a major flood risk to the city. The river was polluted, filled with debris, and unsafe for interaction with the water. All of this changed when the city decided to complete an extensive restoration project. Now an ASLA awarded design, Mill River Park is the ideal space for the youth of Stamford to play, learn, and explore.
The first phase of Mill River Park was creating an amazing playground for the city’s younger kids. This phase was particularly exciting for the kids, because they were able to help design the playground.
After it was designed, the community came together to complete a “barn-raising” construction of the playground. Thousands of volunteers from the Stamford area came together to build the playground in under a week. Both the youth and adults of Stamford feel attached to the playground because they were able to be apart of its design and construction. The area surrounding the playground is planted with over 18,000 flowers for both children and adults to enjoy and investigate. The playground was completed in 2006, and has been bringing kids joy ever since.
“I like it because it has ladders and there’s a castle.”
-Ethan, 5, “Mill River Park and Greenway.”
The second phase of the project was the restoration of Mill River, which began in 2009. By removing two dams in the area, the river was able to run freely for the first time in over 360 years, and it made it possible for visitors to access the river’s edge for the first time in a century. The design team also made riffles and pools to create habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species, as well as many habitat areas on land. The kids who visit the park love that they can safely view, and sometimes even interact with, animals in the middle of their city. Park visitors have been posting pictures on social media and the Mill River Collaboratives website of all types of wildlife in the park, including rarely seen ground nesting birds and river otters.
There have been many completed and planned phases to Mill River Park since the restoration of the river. Completed 
projects include a great lawn, pavilion, ice rink/fountain play area, greenway, and the kid favorite carousel. A Discovery Center Park Building is planned to begin construction next summer, which will bring even more fun programs and amenities for kids to the park. Mill River Park Collaborative also has plans to continue expanding the park in multiple directions, which is exciting news for children all over Stamford.
“We have donated a handicapped-accessible Chariot to help assure that all can enjoy the magic of the carousel ride in the heart of Stamford.”
-“Come Visit”
The community has fully embraced the new park and all that is has to offer. In fact, visitors are seen in the park all year-round 
sightseeing, exploring, or participating in the hundreds of programs offered. A series of walking paths was built along the river and into surrounding neighborhoods to create easy access to the park. This was especially great for the children in the community because it allowed them a safe path to walk to and from the park by themselves.
Within the first two years of completion, both elementary and high schools in the area used the park as an outdoor classroom. In a future phase, there are plans to connect the park with Hart School and build them their own special outdoor classroom. Mill River Park also engages with the local schools through their Stewards program, where high school students get the opportunity to learn hands on skills about environmentalism.
Mill River Park is a space for kids to enjoy both active and passive recreation. It invites people to the water’s edge, especially children. The shallow and gentle flowing river makes it easy for children to interact and explore, but still be safe. The informal stone walkways that cover the park promote kids to explore. The design team wanted Mill River Park to be an “active learning playground” for all ages of Stamford to enjoy.
Funding
Mill River Park was part of a larger $100 million project to change the urban landscape of Stamford. So far, all of the phases of the park have cost about $15 million. Mill River Collaborative holds a 10-year renewable contract with the city to oversee the design, construction, maintenance and programming of the park. Roughly 30% of the parks annual budget comes from the city, and the remaining is provided for by donations from community members.
Safety
Stamford is ranked an impressive 16th safest city in the nation, and is by far the safest large city in Connecticut. This plays a large role in a child’s independence. Since crime rates are low, parents feel safe letting their kids travel by themselves. Both children and parents are assured that a kid walking to and from school will make it safely.
“We have spent the past 20 years making the downtown a very, very safe place to be with both police patrols and ambassador patrols.”
-Sandy Goldstein, President of the Downtown Special Services District
Transportation
The amazing transportation network in Stamford is another factor in the independence of the children who live there. Stamford is apart of the Greater New York metropolitan area, so they are connected to the North Grand Line train. Although this line is great for commuting to and from the Big Apple, kids are more likely to use the city’s fantastic bus system. The bus system is clean, safe, friendly, and goes almost anywhere in Stamford, including many child friendly locations. The buses allow for the youth to be independent and travel wherever they want to go safely.
Culture
Another reason why Stamford is such a great place for children to grow up is the unique culture in the area. Since it is close to New York, Stamford is a very diverse community where many different cultures are celebrated. In fact, over 35% of the city’s population is foreign born, and 45% speak a language other than English at home.
“We value and respect all our children and families by celebrating their differences and showing appreciation for their unique gifts and contributions.”
-“Young Family”
A few of the cultural celebrations that the city hold include The Amore Italian Street Festival, Stamford Greek Festival, French Cinematheque Festival, Navratri Dandiya Event, and the Israeli Folk Dance Celebration. All of these cultures come together at the children’s schools, making them more culturally aware and knowledgeable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMBkZuzMiY4
This video highlights Stamford children celebrating the diverse community in their schools.
Programs
CLC
CLC, or Children’s Learning Centers, is one of the many amazing children’s programs in Stamford. CLC was one of the first kids programs in the nation to accomplish the Early Childhood Program Accreditation standards, and the organization continues to achieve very high ratings. CLC’s mission is to make sure that every child of Stamford has access to quality childhood education. They pride themselves in giving kids a “head start” to living the American dream, and helping underprivileged children get a fair shot at succeeding.
“We achieve this by cooperating, collaborating, and coordinating with our community social service agencies. We work to be more efficient and more productive in the face of declining governmental resources and in developing community support to provide best in class early childhood programming.”
-“Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County”
CLC works to close the achievement gap between disadvantaged and advantaged children. The Children’s Learning Center ensures that every child in the program is physically, nutritionally, medically, and emotionally cared for. This allows for the kids to have an optimal learning experience, no matter their economic status.
Snapology
Snapology is a program that is held at a local children’s center in Stamford. The program is based off of the idea that kids learn best through play and hands-on activities. Snapology works to help kids reach their creative potential, which helps them do better in school. They do this by using LEGO® bricks and K’Nex and technology on iPads and laptops. The year-long program allows kids to play with the toys, and learn STEAM based knowledge at the same time. Children can make their own robotic models and creations while also learning about gear ratio, sensors, simple machines, and programming. The Snapology program is now gearing kids up for the Star Wars inspired Robotics Wars where they can solve challenges and build robots.
References
“2015 ASLA Professional Awards.” Mill River Park and Greenway | 2015 ASLA Professional Awards, 2016, www.asla.org/2015awards/95842.html.
amol1812. “Indian Kids Dance Performance at Stamford, CT.” YouTube, YouTube, 2 Mar. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMBkZuzMiY4.
“Collaboration for Climate Resilience in Stamford, Connecticut.” C2ES Solution Forums, 2017, www.c2es.org/site/assets/uploads/2016/03/collaboration-climate-resilience-stamford-connecticut.pdf.
“Come Visit.” Mill River Park Collaborative, millriverpark.org/.
“Mill River Park and Greenway.” OLIN, 2016, www.theolinstudio.com/mill-river-park-and-greenway.
“Mill River Stewards: Exploration.” Mill River Park Collaborative, 2019, millriverpark.org/conservation/youth-internships/mill-river-stewards-exploration/.
Nickerson, John. “Stamford Police Say Downtown Is Safe, despite Homicide and Other Recent Crimes.” StamfordAdvocate, Stamford Advocate, 19 Mar. 2015, www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Stamford-police-say-downtown-is-safe-despite-6134408.php.
“Our Mission.” Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County, 2019, www.clcfc.org/our-mission/.
“Snapology.” Unlimited Sports Action, www.unlimitedsportsaction.com/snapology/.
“Young Family; Which Fairfield Town? (Stamford, Norwalk: Sales, Houses, Safe Area).” City, www.city-data.com/forum/connecticut/623621-young-family-fairfield-town.html.