June 28, 2005
Governor Rell Showcases Connecticut’s State Parks in Preparation for Upcoming Holiday Weekend
Tours Southford Falls State Park to encourage residents to visit state parks
Governor M. Jodi Rell today kicked off the upcoming holiday weekend with a visit to Southford Falls State Park in Oxford. Accompanied by Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Gina McCarthy, Governor Rell encouraged state residents to visit a state park or forest this 4th of July Weekend.
"Connecticut’s state parks and forests provide an excellent venue for enjoying the beauty of our state and I strongly encourage all of our residents to take advantage of their many wonders," said Governor Rell. "I have made it a priority of my administration to ensure that our parks and forests receive the attention they so richly deserve. The upcoming 4th of July weekend will be a great time to see what our parks have to offer.
"Connecticut has so many beautiful and diverse state parks and forest that there really is no excuse to stay inside on these wonderful summer days. Whether it being swimming in Long Island Sound or hiking in the Litchfield hills, everyone should be out and about and enjoying our state parks and forests."
Connecticut’s state parks and forests date back more than 100 years with the first state forest in New England being established in Connecticut during 1903. Today, there are 100 state parks and 31 state forests located throughout the state.
Southford Falls State Park in Oxford, the scene of the tour by Governor Rell and Commissioner McCarthy, is one of the most popular state parks in the state.
It is a designated "trout park," meaning it is stocked weekly with trout from the state’s fish hatcheries. Southford Falls and other "trout parks" are located in easily accessible areas to enhance trout fishing opportunities for young and novice anglers as well as for those with limited mobility. Other activities available at Southford Falls are hiking and fishing and in the winter cross-country skiing and ice-skating.
Some of the other more frequented state parks forests include:
 | Hammonasset State Park, Madison – Connecticut’s largest shoreline park, Hammonasset annually receives more than 1 million campers and beachgoers. Workers at the park’s popular West Beach have just finished a restoration and erosion control project authorized by Governor Rell in March. Through the assistance of the Friends of Hammonasset Beach State Park, the park’s Meigs Point Nature Center is now open 10 months a year. |
| Mashamoquet Brook State Park, Pomfret – The name Mashamoquet is Indian for "stream of good fishing" and originally was applied to the entire area. The present park area is actually a combination of three parks: the original Mashamoquet Brook, Wolf Den and Saptree Run. In September 2004, Governor Rell, as Chair of the State Bond Commission authorized nearly $900,000 for Mashamoquet Brook State Park for future renovations and improvements. |
| Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted – Located in the Pleasant Valley section of Barkhamsted, Peoples State Forest was established in 1924 and is today home to more than 11 miles of hiking trails and other attractions such as the Barkhamsted Lighthouse and the West Branch of the Farmington River, designated as a Wild and Scenic River by the National Park Service. In September of 2004, Governor Rell as Chair of the State Bond Commission authorized $40,000 in design funds to modify the seasonal toilet facilities at Peoples so that the park can be enjoyed year-round. |
For more information on Connecticut state parks (including making a reservation for a campsite), visit the DEP website at http://www.dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/index.htm.
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