This nature area is located on North River Road, just East of Broadway. The property was donated in the late 1990's to the New Haven Parks and Recreation Department. In 2003, the land was entered into the Wetlands Reserve Program through the Department of Natural Resources. A critical step to combating the millions of acres lost to development since colonial times. Since then, efforts have been made to restore this area into its original habitat. Native grasses and trees have been planted. The area is an ideal habitat for wildlife, including many speicies of birds, deer and fox. A gravel access road exists along part of the perimiter of the property. This access leads to a clay canoe launch. The access road is typically closed and accessed by maintenance staff only or for special programming.

Why wetlands like the North River Road Nature Area are critical: Wetlands prevent flooding by acting as a holding area for an overabundance of water and retaining water until it can slowly be released. This allows wetlands help keep river levels normal and filter and purify the surface water. 

• Wetlands also release vegetative matter into rivers, which helps feed fish in the rivers.
• Wetlands help to counter balance the human effect on rivers by rejuvenating them and surrounding ecosystems. 
• Many animals that live in other habitats use wetlands for migration or reproduction.
• Unlike most other habitats, wetlands directly improve other ecosystems. Because of its many cleansing benefits, wetlands have been compared to kidneys. The analogy is good one. Wetlands and kidneys both help control water flow and cleanse the system.
• Wetlands help with erosion control. Tall, native plants help to keep erosion at bay
• Wetlands also clean the water by filtering out sedimentation, decomposing vegetative matter and converting chemicals into useable form. 
• While wetlands are truly unique, they must not be thought of as isolated and independent habitat. To the contrary, wetlands are vital to the health of all other biomes and to wildlife and humans everywhere. 

While wetlands are truly unique, they must not be thought of as isolated and independent habitat. To the contrary, wetlands are vital to the health of all other biomes and to wildlife and humans everywhere. 

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