The Connecticut State Parks System will undergo significant improvements following a $30 million allocation from the State Bond Commission, which includes $3 million designated for repairs at three state parks severely impacted by flooding on August 18.
The funding will support the Restore CT State Parks Initiative, which focuses on addressing necessary repairs across the state’s 110 parks and 32 forests. The initiative aims to stabilize areas affected by the flooding and enhance public safety.
Specific parks benefitting from the funding include Larkin Trail State Park in Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, and Southbury; Kettletown State Park in Southbury; and Southford Falls State Park in Southbury.
Restore CT State Parks initiative also includes improvements such as better ADA access, repairs to historic sites like Gillette Castle, Fort Trumbull, and Heublein Tower, and essential maintenance work, including paving, bathhouse, and utility repairs.
According to a press release, Gov. Ned Lamont emphasized the importance of state parks to the state’s quality of life, noting that they attract an estimated 17 million visitors annually, more than four times Connecticut’s population. “We’re restoring our parks to ensure that residents and visitors now and into the future can have a wonderful outdoor recreation experience in Connecticut,” Lamont said.
Katie Dykes, Commissioner of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), also expressed gratitude toward the governor and state legislature for their support in addressing the agency’s backlog of repairs.
“We’ve already made significant progress addressing our backlog of repairs and refurbishment, completing dozens of projects with many more projects in process. From brand-new windows in the Heublein Tower, to terrace reconstruction at Gillette Castle, to a new boardwalk at Rocky Neck, and countless more projects, we’re delivering an improved parks experience for current and future visitors,” Dykes explained.
