About | Scarritts Mill Pond

The People Behind the Purpose

We are a passionate team of neighbors and advocates united by a single, desire to keep our pond ecologically sound.

Protect our Ponds!

Friends of Scarritts Mill Pond is dedicated to the protection, preservation, and environmental stewardship of Scarritts Mill Pond, its dam structure, and surrounding natural habitat in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Through conservation initiatives, community education, and habitat restoration, we aim to maintain the pond’s historical significance, promote biodiversity, and foster public appreciation for this unique ecological resource.

Scarritts Mill Pond Team

Scott Mangini

Scott provides leadership for the organization’s preservation and remediation initiatives. He was instrumental in building the Friends of Scarritt’s Mill into a self‑sustaining 501(c)(3) organization, overseeing the governance structure necessary for the long‑term preservation of Scarritt’s Mill Pond.

A long‑term West Hartford resident with more than 30 years in the community, Scott brings a deep personal commitment to the stewardship of this historic and ecological resource. He is dedicated to responsible preservation of this 17th‑century site and to advancing sustainable conservation for the benefit of the West Hartford community.

Founder & President

Jen Mira

Vice President

Jen is a lifelong resident of West Hartford and grew up on Banbury Lane, where she lived until she was married. A few years later, she found her way back to Banbury Lane, settling with her husband in a home neighboring the one where she grew up. Today, they share that home on the pond with their two boys and two dogs.

For Jen, there is something especially meaningful about raising her children in the same neighborhood where she spent her own childhood and watching them create many of the same memories she treasures from growing up there - many which include the pond. She appreciates the peaceful setting, natural beauty, and wildlife that makes the Scarritts Mill neighborhood such a special place. Being part of the Friends of Scarritt's Mill is an opportunity to help preserve and care for the pond and its surroundings so that they can continue to be enjoyed by the neighborhood, its wildlife, and future generations.

Dara Warde

Treasurer

Dara moved to Connecticut from North Carolina with her aging mother nearly 6 years ago to be closer to her children. They chose the spot since it was so close to town and yet felt like they were living in the country with the beautiful pond and all the wildlife around them. She has lived on the pond - first with her mother, and now with her daughter Maeve and their dog Rembrandt. Dara has three other adult daughters, two still in the New England area.

She was determined to preserve the pond, so was instrumental in finding the TryMarine solution (see the blog for more info.) Dara is semi-retired now. Her career was in revenue operations for high tech companies, and private and public accounting before that.

Kevin Green

Secretary

Kevin moved to Fern Street, West Hartford in 2004 and then to Wyndwood Road in 2006 where he currently resides with his wife Christine. Kevin enjoys the central location of Wyndwood Road and the beauty and peacefulness that the neighborhood and Scarritts Mill affords. Kevin and Christine are recognized by many within and outside of the neighborhood for walking their dog Shasta around the neighborhood, past the Scarritts Mill pond and through nearby streets enjoying the fresh air and abundant wildlife that frequents the area.

While the residents of the Wyndwood and Banbury Road have changed over the years the peacefulness that comes with living in the neighborhood remains unchanged. Helping ensure that Scarritts Mill remains the community anchor that it is today for future generations of neighborhood residents to enjoy is why Kevin joined the Friends of Scarritts Mill.

Ken Kaufman

Ken's family moved to West Hartford from Chicago when he was 14. He graduated from Hall High School in 1965. After graduating from the Law and Planning Schools at Penn, Ken worked for several years in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. His wife, Lauren, and he moved back to Connecticut in 1982.

Ken worked as an Asst. Corporation Counsel for the City of Hartford in real estate and planning law for 2O years, then went into private practice.

They purchased their home in West Hartford on Scarritt’s Mill Pond in 2024. They fell in love with this area. The waterfall, the geese and ducks and beautiful surrounding trees are gorgeous in all seasons. An easy walk to West Hartford Center. They’re home.

Director At Large

Our Purpose:

This corporation is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The specific purposes of the corporation include, but are not limited to:

Protecting and preserving the ecological and historical integrity of Scarritts Mill Pond and its surrounding environment.
Promoting public awareness, education, and engagement related to the natural habitat and history of the area.
Supporting conservation and environmental sustainability initiatives.
Providing wildlife habitat restoration and stewardship of native species.

Where is this little Pond?