The Town Green Special Services District
Town Green Special Services District is an organization that covers a 27 square block area in Downtown New Haven. Its mission is to improve ownership values and the urban appeal of Downtown New Haven for the betterment of Greater New Haven. Since its founding in 1997, the Town Green has employed a three-pronged approach to accomplishing this mission, aiming for a cleaner, safer and more inviting Downtown. In addition to INFONewHaven.com, the District also operates two major visitor centers: INFO New Haven at Long Wharf (open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day) and INFO New Haven on Chapel Street . These centers serve more than 80,000 in-person visitors per year. By collaborating with a great number of downtown and area organizations, including museums, theaters, Market New Haven, Yale University, the Arts Council for Greater New Haven, and the Greater New Haven Convention and Visitors Bureau, to name a few, the District has served as a forerunner in creating projects to both beautify and market Downtown New Haven.
To attain a cleaner Downtown area, the Town Green District established a Clean Team in 1997. Working seven days a week, the Clean Team is responsible for removing an inordinate amount of litter, illegal posters, and graffiti from public spaces, sidewalks, buildings, and fixtures. They also maintain 120 cement planters which contain three major seasonal plantings, four public spaces (Temple Street Plaza, Pitkin Plaza, The Church Street median and "The Lot" on Chapel Street) Our efforts to cleanup and beautify the district have greatly helped visually enhance the area and change peoples perception or our downtown for the better.
An initiative for a safer district compliments this noticeable facelift thanks to our Downtown Ambassadors, who have assisted over 91,000 people by giving directions, providing helpful advice, serving as walking escorts, and greeting patrons of the arts at theater performances, gallery openings, and other special events throughout the District.
Mayor’s Passport to Downtown Dining and the Blues, Berries & Jam farmers market and concert series are two of the many programs Town Green has instituted to make this city a more vibrant place. The latest information on Town Green’s marketing campaigns, local events, retail services, and dining opportunities are circulated through comprehensive publications such as the Downtown Guide and Tea Leaves, a semi-monthly newsletter, in an effort to promote the best that Downtown New Haven has to offer.
