The northern boundary of the Norwalk State Heritage Park encompasses Mathews Park, formerly Elm Park, originally a 30-acre estate which served as a summer home to two wealthy New York families, the Lockwoods, and later, the Mathews. Built in the late 1860's, Elm Park and its remaining buildings were purchased by the City of Norwalk in 1941.
 The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum was the main residence and today offers audio tours, exhibitions, special events and educational programs. Featured on the Arts & Entertainment Network's popular "America's Castles" series, the mansion is recognized as one of the most important historical buildings in the United States. This magnificent Victorian palace requires ongoing restoration and is filled with priceless decorative treasures. It is considered by historians to be one of the earliest examples of 19th century industrialists' opulent lifestyles and a precursor to the great Newport Mansions.
 The Connecticut GraphicArts Center is located in the estate's original stone carriage house. This Center is a non-profit multimedia workshop and gallery devoted to the creation and exhibition of original prints, photographs, artists books, paper works and related disciplines. Major exhibitions of historic and contemporary prints and educational programs are featured.
 The most recent addition to Mathews Park is Stepping Stones Museum for Children. Opened in early 2000, it is focused on entertaining and educating children with hands-on activities. The museum expects to attract more than 100,000 visitors each year.
The original gatehouse at the West Avenue entrance to Mathews Park houses
a Visitor's Information Center under the auspices of the Coastal
Fairfield County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
 "Devon’s Place," planned for opening in mid-2001, will be a 20,000 square foot playground where all children, including those with physical, mental and sensory challenges, can play together. It will be designed following safety and accessibility guidelines provided by Boundless Playgrounds and will look like an ordinary playground, but will include wheelchair-height sandboxes, swings with high backs for support, braille signs and musical stimulation for the visually impaired, and a variety of other equipment. The playground will meet or exceed all safety standards for public playgrounds.
 Adjacent to Mathews Park, Pine Island Cemetery preceded construction of the Lockwood estate. In December of 1708, the town government selected the land for a "burying place." The site eventually became known as Pine Island Cemetery. It became, and still is, a burial ground for members of Norwalk's most prominent families. In 1975, the City of Norwalk reclassified Pine Island Cemetery as a Historical Landmark. Recently, the Norwalk Historical Commission initiated a program to restore the cemetery.
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