Merritt Parkway: The Road that Shaped a Region, Transportation
Decorated with a breathtaking landscape and a treasured collection of diversely styled bridges, the Merritt Parkway runs thirty-seven and a half miles through Fairfield County.
From its complicated beginnings to the present, authors Laurie Heiss and Jill Smyth navigate the hard-fought yet picturesque path of this beloved road. Meet the bridge artist, the landscapers, the politicians and the activists whose involvement in the Merritt transformed Fairfield County from farms and country estates to one of the wealthiest counties in the nation. With the dedication of preservationists and conservationists, the Merritt Parkway today remains both functional and beautiful, holding a unique place in the heart of Connecticut's drivers.
Laurie Heiss, Jill Smyth
Laurie Heiss started her professional career at IBM, continuing at GE in consulting/management. She is a founding member of the Redding Preservation Society and the Fairfield County Preservation Network. Active on the boards of the Redding Land Trust and the Merritt Parkway Conservancy, she was the previous executive director of the conservancy.She has restored a 1767 saltbox and an 1830s farmstead where the barns and outbuildings are on Connecticut's Register of Historic Places. Jill Smyth has been involved with the Merritt Parkway Conservancy since 2002 and currently serves as executive director. She is currently a member of the Merritt Parkway Advisory Committee, Stamford Historic Preservation Advisory Commission, Stamford Garden Club, Connecticut Tree Wardens Association and a Master Gardener. She lives in Stamford and has two sons.
