South of Interstate 95,the area known as Tokeneke is an exclusive enclave within the town of Darien.The homes are prized for their privacy and access to the inlets and bays around Long Island Sound.Most of the oldest homes were built as part of the original Tokeneke Park development, which took its name from a Native American sachem who is said to have led a tribe that hunted and fished in the area. An Indian’s silhouette is used to mark the park boundaries.
Prospective Tokeneke Park buyers were invited to stay at Eagle Rock, a colonial-style inn constructed by the development company. The inn, which overlooks picturesque lagoons at the bridge crossing to Contentment Island, has been extensively renovated for use as a private residence. .
More modest Darien properties can be found farther inland, though prices rarely dip much below $1 million.Homes in the Tokeneke area can sell for as much as $7million.
Tokeneke families also benefit from Darien’s well-financed (school spending is $11,500 per student),and state-of-the-art school facilities. Children attend nearby Tokeneke Elementary School, one of five schools in town for kindergarten to Grade 5. Built in 2008, the $23 million building is a technologically advanced, fully air-conditioned school.The current enrollment is 450 students.
Students in Grades 6 through 8 attend Middlesex Middle School, where a recent addition provided a new cafeteria and media center, a second gymnasium and a music technology lab. Middlesex students are divided into 10 ”academic teams,” each of which is guided by the same five teachers all year long. After school, students may choose from more than 50 clubs and an inclusive intramural sports program.
A new $73 million building l replaced Darien High School in 2007. Designed to maximize the use of technology by both teachers and students, the building is wired to enable every classroom to receive video and data streams for instructional use.
In addition to a rigorous core curriculum, the high school offers a wide variety of optional academic programs, including television production, a United States/China student exchange, and a technology training program involving construction of a fuel-cell-powered vehicle.The rich school environment is reflected in Darien’s SAT scores, which consistently come in near the top of state rankings.
Tokeneke families have access to many recreational facilities in Darien, including a thriving Y.M.C.A., two town beaches, a community center for teenagers, and numerous private tennis, boating and golfing clubs.
Closest to home is the Tokeneke Club, a members-only beach club that took possession of the inn’s private beach and casino building in 1909. The Darien Historical Society’s histories of Tokeneke note that the club’s original wooden buildings burned to the ground in 1932 during a Saturday night party, and that replacement buildings were later battered by hurricanes. The club has since sought permanence in concrete.
A lesser-known Tokeneke landmark is the Convent of St. Birgitta, a lone holdout against development on a large waterfront plot with a panoramic view of Scott’s Cove. The convent, which houses a Swedish order of nuns, offers reasonably priced rooms to guests or small groups seeking a spiritual retreat.
Portions of this article were reprinted from the real estate section of The New York Times,2005.
