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Merritt Parkway Conservancy Announces new Executive Director

The Merritt Parkway Conservancy has named Arianne Kolb as its new Executive Director.

 

Kolb replaces Wesley Haynes, who held the position for 5 years and now remains on the board as its Secretary. Haynes has made great strides working with CT DOT on numerous projects, including completion of the 9-phase corridor improvement rehabilitation, Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan, design of the Route 7 interchange, and protection of the parkway’s view shed from massive developments and unsightly signage.

A 20-year resident of New Canaan, Kolb has many years of experience in historic preservation, fundraising, and community engagement, having been on the boards of the New Canaan Preservation Alliance and the Waveny Park Conservancy. She was the Executive Co-Director of the Carriage Barn Arts Center, worked at the Glass House, and has served on art, science, and fundraising committees at the Bruce Museum, including their Capital Campaign. She has published two educational books on New Canaan history: “From the Saltbox to the Glass House: Places that Matter in New Canaan” and “Waveny: New Canaan’s Treasure” as well as the catalogue for the exhibition she co-curated, “Women of Waveny.” As an art curator, formerly at the Getty Museum, she is planning a series of traveling exhibitions on the history and design of the Merritt Parkway. The New Canaan Library will be launching the show in April 2026.

Kolb said, 

"I applaud the impressive achievements of the Conservancy and am thrilled to be joining this impactful organization and engaging the communities along the Merritt to preserve this treasured historic asset for future generations to enjoy.”

 

Since 2002, the Conservancy has been working in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Transportation as advocates and stewards on numerous initiatives, including bridge and service area restoration, landscape and vegetation management. Kolb’s current projects include working with CT DOT on a Landscape Management Plan, the completion of the Route 7 Interchange design, and the design and placement of wrong-way signalizations at the exit ramps. In its role as the parkway’s sentinel, the Conservancy continues to engage ecological, traffic, and historic resource experts to mitigate massive developments along the corridor that negatively impact the Merritt’s special character, naturalistic environment, and neighboring communities. Recently the landscape and views along the Merritt have been threatened by the proposals of two highly visible housing projects in Fairfield.

Kolb emphasized that, 

"Many don’t realize the complexity of design and ingenuity that went into creating the Merritt or the complexity of stewarding this National Register-listed place and National Scenic Byway. In addition to working with CT DOT on maintenance and restoration projects, I look forward to building awareness about the significance of this unique treasure."

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Exit Renumbering on Merritt

CT DOT recently changed the Merritt Parkway’s exit numbers to a new, mile-based system. The new exit numbers will correspond to the actual mileage from the New York state line. For example, the exit formerly known as Exit 28 in Greenwich is now Exit 3. You will see “OLD EXIT” signs with a green background at key locations for at least two years to help drivers adjust. 

Planned Developments in Fairfield Threaten Parkway and Neighborhood View Shed

On July 8th, the TPZ held a public hearing for a text change to create an affordable housing zone allowing for a large and highly visible housing development at 1477 Congress Street (39 units). MPC opposed this application and gathered wetlands, traffic, and historic preservation experts to review and testify on the applications’ flaws and negative impact on the Merritt’s view shed, the natural environment and wetlands, the neighboring homes, and a historic 19th-century house.