107 State Parks, 32 State Forests, Countless Ways To Have Summer Fun (With Videos)

All state parks and forests are open for the traditional Memorial Day weekend’s start to the summer season, the state Department of Environmental Protection says. The DEP is encouraging all state residents and visitors to get outside and have some fun.

“Connecticut is home to some of the most beautiful spots in the country and many can be found right in our state parks and forests," said DEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty in a prepared release.

"From the Mianus River State Park in Stamford to the Quaddick State Forest in Thompson, there is no place in Connecticut where a short drive, bike or walk will not get you to a state park or forest.  We hope all of Connecticut’s residents and our many visitors will get outside this summer and enjoy what our state has to offer.”

Improvements to Hammonasset include new facilities, credit card processing, fast lane

Commissioner Esty visited Hammonasset Beach State Park earlier this weekend to kick off the summer festivities at Connecticut parks. He and other DEP officials highlighted numerous improvements visitors will see this year.

Located at the site of the former Visitors Center, a facilities services building with composting toilets was constructed in July 2010.  It will serve the area called the “Middle Beach” section of the park.

Visitors to the park can now use credit cards to pay for day use and season pass parking fees greatly enhancing our ability to serve the public in a more expeditious manner.  In addition the park will designate the fourth ticket booth lane as a “fast lane” to be used by campers, charter oak, season pass holders and other visitors not subject to park fees in an effort to address vehicles in long lines waiting to get into the park.

Forty-six campsites along Beach Road upgraded

Along Beach Road, forty-six campsites have been upgraded with water and electric hookups providing campers the options of additional amenities in the campground.

Also in the campground, four toilet buildings have been retrofitted with solar hot water collectors, energy efficient lighting, more efficient solar lighting and motion sensor light switches as part of an effort to reduce energy consumption making the campground “green."

Improvements to other state parks include:

• Silver Sands State Park – Now hosts the state’s longest boardwalk, stretching throughout the park to Walnut Beach Park, Milford. 

• Salt Rock State Park Campground-a tunnel has been constructed under the railroad line providing safe access to the Shetucket River for fishermen and hikers.

• Gillette Castle, East Haddam – New interpretive exhibits in the Visitors Center

• Fort Griswold State Park – The Groton Memorial is now open after a major renovation that took place last year.

• No Child Left Inside® – Launched the Outdoor Recreation Challenge this spring and will be hosting events throughout the summer and fall. For more information please visit www.NoChildLeftInside.org

• Social Media Outreach – The DEP is now on Facebook, hosting a boating page (http://www.facebook.com/BoatingInConnecticut) and a page for lifeguards (www.facebook.com/ctstateparklifeguards) in addition to the DEP’s main page (www.facebook.com/ctdep).  Additional use of Facebook and also Twitter social media sites is planned for the future.

• Camping – The DEP has more than 1400 campsites at 14 campgrounds across the state.  Reservations can be made through Reserve America at www.Reserveamerica.com.

“The Connecticut State Parks and Forests system is one of the best in the country and offers an unlimited variety of recreational opportunities," Esty said. "You can learn about our state’s role in the Revolutionary War at places like Fort Griswold in Groton, walk nearly a mile of boardwalk at Silver Sands in Milford or enjoy bird watching at one of the prime spots in America for birding, Hammonasset State Park in Madison.  Whether you hike, fish or horseback ride, or are simply looking for a beautiful spot for a family picnic, you will find a park nearby where you can spend quality time with your family.”

Park Passes

There has been no increase in park pass fees for 2011.  State residents are encouraged to purchase a state parks season pass, which sell for $67 for residents and $112 for out-of-state residents.  The pass covers the cost of parking at major state parks where daily parking fees are charged.

Park passes can be purchased at the DEP Bookstore and at a variety of other park locations. To find a location to purchase a park pass, visit the DEP web site at www.ct.gov/dep or call the Division of State Parks at (860) 424-3200.

Lifeguards

DEP has a squad of 80 guards at 11 state parks on duty from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.  For more information call (860) 424-3200 or visit www.facebook.com/ctstateparklifeguards

General Information

For more information on Connecticut’s State Parks, visit the DEP web site at www.ct.gov/dep/  or call the Division of State Parks at (860) 424-3200.

Seasonal Positions

The DEP expects between 500 and 600 seasonal positions during the recreation season including 100 lifeguard positions.  Seasonal positions are still available.  Visit DEP’s website at www.ct.gov/dep for more information.

 Special Use Application

CT State Park & Forest Recreation Areas host more than 300 Special Events every year. These include fundraising events, antique car shows, filming, competitions and much more. Information regarding how to apply for a special event at a park or forest and the Application Form for such events may now be accessed on line at:  www.ct.gov/dep/parkspecialuse

Camping

There is a toll free telephone and on-line system to reserve campsites at state park and forest campgrounds. Reservations for all state campgrounds are available online at Reserve America or by calling toll free 1-877-668-CAMP (2267)

Parks with Camp Areas:
Black Rock  |  Devil's Hopyard |  Hammonasset Beach  |  Hopeville

Housatonic Meadows  | Kettletown   | Lake Waramaug  |  Macedonia Brook

Mashamoquet Brook  |  Rocky Neck |  Salt Rock

Forests with Camp Areas:
American Legion State Forest  |  Pachaug State Forest

Horse Camp Areas:

Natchaug State Forest  |  Pachaug State Forest

 State Parks Interpretive Program and Nature Centers

There are programs in 22 state parks and forests with approximately 40 seasonal interpreters conducting programs on the natural cultural and historic aspects of Connecticut State Parks and Forests.

Programs consist of live animals presentations, bird and wildflower walks, canoe programs, marine exploration, museum tours, and astronomy programs.

Parks with interpreters include:  Gillette Castle, CCC Museum at Shenipsit, Sherwood Island, Dinosaur State Park, Hammonasset, Rocky Neck, Kettletown, Sherwood Island, Putnam Memorial and Peoples State Forest, Kellogg Environmental Center / Osborne Homestead Museum, Goodwin Forest, Stratton Brook, Heublein Tower, Fort Trumbull, Fort Griswold, Chatfield Hollow, Black Rock, Topsmead, Harkness, Mashamoquet Brook and Squantz Pond.

Fishing

Trout Parks: Connecticut currently has eleven Trout Parks spread throughout the state from Fairfield County to the Northeastern Hills.

Trout Parks include:

Black Rock State Park

Watertown

Chatfield Hollow State Park

Killingworth

Day Pond State Park

Colchester

Kent Falls State Park

Kent

Mohegan Park Pond

Norwich

Natchaug River

Eastford

Southford Falls State Park

Oxford

Stratton Brook State Park

Simsbury

Valley Falls Park

Vernon

Wharton Brook State Park

Wallingford

Wolfe Park

Monroe

Trout Parks are ideal locations for a family fishing outing. They are located in well-maintained state or municipal parks with bathroom and picnic facilities. Young or novice anglers are more likely to catch trout at these locations because of frequent stockings (approximately once every ten days during the spring) and a reduced creel limit (2 trout per day). The reduced creel limit spreads the fish among more anglers and helps to maintain consistently high catch rates throughout the spring trout fishing season. These areas are ideal for introducing young anglers to the sport of fishing.

CARE (Connecticut Aquatic Resource Education) Program:  Fishing is wholesome family fun in the great outdoors.  Volunteer Instructors from the Inland Fisheries Division's Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education program offer Family Fishing courses across the State.  Courses have been so popular that over 2000 Instructors have donated the equivalent of $3 million in volunteer time to the DEP since 1986.  They've taught nearly 150,000 students about water, fish, and fishing so far!  CARE Instructors even lead fishing events in several state parks each year as part of the DEP's No Child Left Inside® campaign.  If you would like to participate, visit the DEP website for a schedule of upcoming Family Fishing Courses today.

Urban Fishing Program: This new program seeks to enhance fishing opportunities in Connecticut’s major population centers. It began in 2006 in Bridgeport with the initiation of trout stocking at Bunnells Pond at Beardsley Park. Three more areas were added in 2007 at Keney Park Pond (Hartford), Lake Wintergreen (New Haven), and Mohegan Park Pond (Norwich). In addition to trout, the DEP began stocking these areas with catfish to provide good fishing during the summer months. In 2008, the program expanded into the City of Waterbury, designating Lakewood Lake and Upper Fulton Park Pond as Urban Fishing Areas. Lakewood Lake is stocked with catfish, and Upper Fulton Park Pond is stocked with trout. As with other fisheries programs, DEP continues to evaluate the effectiveness of the Urban Fishing Program in order to guide future management actions.

Community Fishing Program: This program seeks to enhance fishing opportunities in Connecticut’s major population centers. It first began in 2006 in Bridgeport with the initiation of trout stocking at Bunnells Pond at Beardsley Park. Three more areas were added in 2007 at Keney Park Pond (Hartford), Lake Wintergreen (New Haven) and Mohegan Park Pond (Norwich). In addition to trout, the DEP began stocking these areas with catfish to provide good fishing during the summer months. In 2008, the program expanded into the City of Waterbury, designating Lakewood Lake and Upper Fulton Park Pond as Urban Fishing Areas. Lakewood Lake is stocked with catfish, and Upper Fulton Park Pond is stocked with trout. Since its beginning in 2006, over 50,000 trout and 20,000 catfish have been released into the Community Fishing areas.

Connecticut River Bonus Striped Bass Program: This May and June the DEP is issuing free vouchers to anglers fishing the Connecticut River to take striped bass in a size range (at least 22 inches in length but shorter than 28 inches) below the current recreational minimum length for stripers in CT. Each voucher allows the angler to keep one “bonus” striper and can be used only on the Connecticut River from just above the I-95 Bridge to the Massachusetts border. Anglers can obtain two vouchers per day and use a maximum of two vouchers per day to keep “bonus” fish (and they can still keep their regular daily limit of to two 28 inches or larger striped bass). For more information including how to obtain vouchers, visit Fisheries at www.ct.gov/dep/fishing (and go to Announcements) or call 860-424-3474.

Boating

• Check out the 2011 Connecticut Boater’s Guide available at town halls and many other locations.  It provides information on getting a boating certificate, how to register your boat, what safety equipment is required, what laws apply to your favorite waterbody, and options for clean boating.  Use it to find a boat launch.

• Get a virtual tour of Connecticut’s State Boat Launches by visiting www.ct.gov/dep/boating and select “locate a state boat launch” option on the right.

• Be on the lookout for our boating safety boat “Prudence” this summer. Talk to the PRU-CREW and benefit from the BOATS program (Because Our Acquaintances Think Safety) – in which retailers and organizations have teamed up with DEP to provide incentives for safe boaters.

• “Get It On Connecticut – Wear It!”  - DEP encourages all boaters to wear their life jackets.  Life jackets save lives.  DEP estimates that 25 lives could have been saved over the last 5 years if people wore their life jackets.  

• Boat Safe/Boat Sober – Last year 80% of the boating fatalities were in accidents that involved alcohol.

• Follow us on Facebook at Boating In Connecticut for the latest on marine events in your area and to follow the PRU-CREW and reap the benefits of being a safe boater.

• Boaters in Southeastern Connecticut can use the newly renovated State boat launch at Bayberry Lane, in Groton.  Also, the dock at Lake of Isles, North Stonington, has been replaced.

• Get a free Vessel Safety Check at our state boat ramps and learn how to prevent the spread of invasive species.  Boating Education Assistants will be on hand at many of the State’s boat launches to check your boat for needed safety equipment and make sure you know how to decontaminate your boat to prevent the spread of unwanted plants and animals, especially, zebra mussels into other waters.

• Consider becoming a volunteer Invasive Investigator.  Work at your local boat launch or a state launch to educate boaters about ways to prevent the spread of invasive plants and animals that can ruin boating fun and change a waterbody’s ecology forever. Contact the Boating Division at dep.boating.division@ct.gov for info.

• Remember, you are in command.  Ensure that your passengers are safe and that you take the responsibility for keeping aquatic invasive species out of Connecticut’s waters.  Your actions make a difference.

Water Quality Testing

The DEP conducts weekly samplings at 23 state-owned and managed swimming areas that include four on Connecticut’s coastline.  Cities and towns test their own beach areas.

Water testing, which is done once a week, begins the week before Memorial Day weekend and continues through Labor Day weekend.  Water samples, which may contain fecal contamination from wildlife or storm run-off, are analyzed at a Department of Public Health lab. Retesting is done if the first weekly sample is contaminated.

Test results may be found at the DEP website (www.ct.gov/dep)

Wildlife

Charles Island in Milford and Duck Island in Westbrook will be closed to the public through September 9, 2011 to prevent disturbances, and potential death of nesting birds.  Both islands have been designated by DEP as Natural Area Preserves, primarily because of their importance as nesting habitats for several state-listed nesting birds. In addition, the DEP asks beachcombers, sunbathers, boaters, and other recreational users of Connecticut coastal parks and beaches to respect the fencing and yellow warning signs that have been placed along beaches where rare piper plovers and least terns nest.

Connecticut’s Parks, Forests and Wildlife Management Areas are great places to have some “wild” experiences.  If you are quiet and observant, there’s a whole world of wildlife waiting to be discovered in our many unique places.

The redback salamander is undoubtedly Connecticut's most ubiquitous amphibian, found in forested areas throughout the state. Since the young hatching fully developed from eggs deposited under logs and stones, these salamanders are not dependent on standing water. Both the red-striped and unstriped (usually all gray or black) phases occur in fragmented patches of forest and in wooded parks surrounded by urban development. Lift up a rock or log at Gay City State Park (Hebron) to see a redback but be sure to put the rock or log back as it is someone’s home.

Some areas even have special wildlife viewing areas that make it even easier to observe wildlife. In the conifer forest at Belding Wildlife Management Area (Vernon) you can hear black-throated green warblers and red-breasted nuthatches. In the spring and fall at Silver Sands Beach State Park (Milford) many semipalmated sandpipers stop to feed on the beach and mudflats.

A visit to Hammonasset State Park (Madison) or Rocky Neck State Park (East Lyme) provides a great view of nesting osprey. Take a hike to the beaver marsh at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area (Burlington) to see deer, muskrats and, of course, beavers!

Remember these three tips and you’ll see plenty of wild birds and animals. Look carefully, as many species blend into their surroundings. Be quiet, most animals don’t like noise. Keep your distance.  Wild animals will flee if they feel threatened by your approach. Visit the Wildlife Division on DEP’s website for tips on watching wildlife and more suggestions for a truly wild experience.