Restoration of the Dossin Beach Bathhouse as Headquarters

The Quinnipiac River Watershed Association (QRWA) entered into a long term lease agreement with the City of Meriden to convert the historic Dossin Beach Bathhouse on Hanover Pond and the Quinnipiac River in Meriden to a regional Quinnipiac Environmental Education Center. We have long sought a permanent home with waterfront access to realize our dream of linking every citizen in the watershed, especially children and youth, to the River and the natural world. This bond is crucial to the recovery of the pollution-impaired Quinnipiac, for people will protect what they have grown to love.

Seven Year Restoration Project Completed! Our Heartfelt Thanks to Pfizer, Inc. and the Cuno Foundation for funding that made the completion of 1st and 2nd floor possible, and of course to the Meriden Lions Club in completing the lobby and classroom, known as the Lions Club Learning Center Classroom (see plaque on brick wall entering classroom). 

To date we have received over $50,000 from the Cuno Foundation, for materials to restore the exterior and interior of the building, including a new roof,  new windows, gutters and plumbing materials and a recent grant to purchase the materials to complete the 1st floor of our restoration project. With honor and pride we  have dedicated this room to now be known as The Cuno Community Room.   An informal dedication took place in the Cuno Community Room on June 13th, 2012 with both the Cuno and QRWA Board of Directors.  A $10,000 donation from Pfizer, Inc., North Haven, CT was allocated to the completion of the QRWA Library and was dedicated in honor of lifetime advocates Rico and Annette Gattilia from North Haven, CT.   Dedication took place on February 25th, 2014.   Since the writing of this article, Annette Rico has since passed away. We are honored to have known her and her legacy will live on through this library and her work.

With the exterior of the restoration project completed in 2010 by QRWA board volunteers, and member contributions, past presidents of the Meriden Lions Club, Art Forcier and Ed Haberli combined their president projects and provided $20,000 in materials to replace of all the plumbing and heating, including the duct work to install the new furnace. A security system, media center and ceramic tile for the entire first floor were all added surprises by the Meriden Liins Club to make our dreams come true. A dedication ceremony for our new lobby and classroom took place on June 15th, 2011 with a plaque presented to the Meriden Lions Club naming the newly constructed section The Meriden Lions Club Learning Center.  

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