Founding members
Winifred Balboni
Hope Hageman

Who we are
    In 1995, a coalition of concerned outdoorsmen, sportsmen, environmentalists, and citizens banded together to form the Friends of Sherwood Island State Park, Inc. Its stated purpose: 
to preserve, maintain, improve and enhance Sherwood Island State Park for the benefit of the general public;  to solicit and raise funds;  to educate the public about the resources, needs and value of the park and carry on any activities consistent with its classification as a 501(c)(3) not-for profit corporation.  

Our major project: a new Nature Center
   The old Nature Center near the West Beach was demolished in 2003. To replace it, the CT Department of Environmental Protection made a commitment to assist with infrastructure and erect a structure on the eastern side of the park.
     With a goal of raising $150,000 toward the cost, the Friends have been engaged in a capital campaign. Along with member contributions, additional funds have come in from events like the annual Shorefest. 
     Grants. The new Nature Center will benefit greatly from three substantial grants awarded to the Friends of Sherwood Island.
     The GE Foundation breathed life into the project with a $50,000 grant in early 2003.
      The Long Island Sound Study granted $16,900 from its license plate program for educational displays, including a marine aquarium , a marsh tank and a touch tank with local species of marine life, educational signs and brochures, and trail maps of the park. The award was presented in 2005 by Governor M. Jodi Rell.
     The Long Island Sound Futures Fund granted $20,000 to support “Habitats: Nature's Classroom,” a Friends program to describe and demonstrate the existing habitats and inhabitants of Sherwood Island and the Sound. A permanent display will be created that will address awareness, understanding and conservation of these species and habitats. The Futures Fund, administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, receives most of its federal funds from the EPA.

 What else we've done 
worked with State legislators to maximize State 2010 Plan support of replacement of bathhouses and the park entrance.   collaborated with the Long Island Sound Fund in a major dune restoration project utilizing native plant material, boardwalks to protect ecologically fragile areas and appropriate signage to educate visitors concerning dune ecology.   purchased two major equipment upgrades to facilitate better park maintenance.  co-sponsored community efforts to enhance park premises, e.g. Key Club, Cub and Boy Scout clean-ups, plantings and Eagle Scout projects, Church and Seniors Group Community Service Projects. initiated an outreach campaign to surrounding communities to acquaint them with the park's features and opportunities. planned and implemented a Butterfly Garden for Urban Children through a grant of $500 by Paul Newman Inc.
nature trail and marker maintenance, printing and updating the self-guided birding guide. DEP GreenCircle Awards have been presented to FSISP and to Hope Hageman.