Rocky Hill Community Farm (formerly Straska farm)

Project Facts

  • Until 200 years ago, this farm was a set of small farms. Over time, the parcels were consolidated into the farm that exists today, as the 84.5 acres in the area of New Britain Ave. and New Rd.
  • The farm was purchased by the Town of Rocky Hill in 2019 for $7.2 million via referendum.
  • The intention was to lease land to local farmers and create educational and passive recreational opportunities for the community.
  • Local farmers working land near the Connecticut River are at the mercy of flooding and have benefited from using this upland property.
  • A Memorial Naming Committee was formed to evaluate submitted community applications for renaming Straska Farm and the barn. At their meeting of August 21, 2023, the Town Council officially changed the name to Rocky Hill Community Farm.
  • Consulting Engineers Zuvic, Carr and Associates have been engaged to perform an environmental study and recommend a remediation plan.
  • The University of Connecticut’s Community Research & Design Collaborative is responsible for the Conceptual Site/Land-Use Plan and has been working with Town officials and the Open Space and Farmland Preservation Subcommittee to determine potential use of the property based upon programmatic “wish-lists”. These include:

    • Central Barn Structure

      • Barn cropped (JPG)A top priority is the creation of a barn structure for educational purposes and supporting a community garden in a centralized, highly visible location for use by the community, with a strong sense of entry and a park identity with ADA compliant access and plenty of parking.

    • Public Agricultural Uses

      • A Community Garden with 50+ raised beds for use by the general public, Youth Services, Scouts, etc. and the potential for a “pick-your-own" strawberries, a bee farm and public education uses.

    • Public Hiking Trails

      • A new trailhead with strong wayfinding and ADA compliant, unpaved trails will be provided at the existing, New Road entrance, with controlled street parking for 6-12+ cars.