Jeremy Shingleton
In addition to its central location, Cromwell enjoys convenient access to Connecticut's highway network. I-91, the primary north-south highway in Connecticut, bisects the town. Rte. 9 merges with I-91 in Cromwell, providing access to I-95 and the shoreline. Cromwell's strategic location is further enhanced by the Central Connecticut Expressway, which connects 1-91 with I-84, the primary east-west highway in Connecticut. For all of these reasons, Cromwell is known as the Crossroads of Connecticut.
The town of Cromwell is filled with history and charming New England culture. The first settlers arrived in 1651. At the time, the community was known as the Upper Houses section of Middletown. For 200 years, it remained a part of Middletown, before incorporating as a separate municipality in 1851.
Over the years, Cromwell has undergone great growth and progress. In 1984, Cromwell became a regular stop on the PGA Tour. The championship-caliber Tournament Players Club of Connecticut, one of the finest golf courses in the United States, recently became the host of the Travelers' Championship. This past spring, the TPC finished construction of its practice facilities, considered to be the best on the PGA Tour.
Over the past three years, Cromwell has experienced more job growth than any other town or city in Middlesex County. With a new business park on Corporate Row, noteworthy industrial developments along Sebethe Dr., and a new state of the art high tech business park being developed in the Northern Tier, significant growth of professional and skilled jobs should continue over the next decade.
The retail sector thrives in Cromwell. The Rte. 372 corridor, with its convenient access to highways, is one of the most successful stretches of retail businesses in Connecticut. This area is the primary destination for consumers in Cromwell and most surrounding communities. This area also houses the Crowne Plaza, with banquet facilities and a convention center that flourish as the host of major events from organizations located throughout Connecticut and surrounding states, thanks to its centralized location.
With all of the exciting initiatives underway, Cromwell is quickly becoming one of the best places to live in all of New England. Here is an update on just a few of our projects.
The town owns 30 acres of land along the Connecticut River. This fall, we finished the first phase of construction of Cromwell River Port Park at Frisbie Landing. The new park will be an integral part of our town identity, an amenity unique to Cromwell. With access to the Connecticut River (and, ultimately Long Island Sound) via boat, recreational trails with scenic views, a pavilion and picnic area, and a stage for weekly riverfront concerts during the summer, the park will be an exciting new attraction.
To further grow our commercial tax base and enhance our cultural identity as a charming river port community, we are investing in our historic downtown, utilizing a combination of state and local funds. As part of this project, expect extensive streetscape work, such as brick pavers, granite curbing, trees, old style street lamps, benches, and improved parking. As a result of our revitalization project, we expect to attract major anchor businesses, including upscale restaurants and a playhouse/performing arts center.
The superintendent of schools recently reported 2008 CAPT scores for Cromwell. Our students made improvements across the board, with extraordinary improvements in mathematics.
Currently, the elementary, middle, and high schools are being upgraded with the best possible security features. The schools will feature full electronic surveillance coverage and 100% lockdown. With the finest technology, these schools will likely be the safest schools in the entire state of Connecticut.
With great schools, a strong local economy, and many wonderful new amenities, it is no wonder that Cromwell was recently rated as one of the best towns to raise a family by Hartford Magazine.