Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

DEEP headquarters at 79 Elm Street in Hartford is currently closed due to recent water damage impacting multiple areas of the building. We are working to remediate the situation and get the building back open to staff and the public as soon as possible. While the building is closed, Staff continue to work either remotely or in alternate locations. We continue to be able to receive documents via U.S. Mail or courier service, and our electronic file submittal protocols remain unchanged. For updates, please click here

Connecticut Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences

Collage of people recreating outdoors

Goals of the Office

Connecticut’s $5.5B outdoor recreation economy is the second largest in New England and grew by 9.2% in 2023, outpacing the national average of 9% and demonstrating a continued trend of strong growth since the pandemic. Building on this momentum, DEEP launched a new, interactive State Parks website, Governor Lamont and the Legislature committed an historic $80M to the Restore CT State Parks initiative, and most recently DEEP established the Connecticut Office of Outdoor Industry & Experiences. Led by Jeff Shaw, the Office focuses on growing Connecticut’s outdoor recreation economy by:

  1. Partnering with the private sector to provide new or expanded outdoor recreation experiences in Connecticut State Parks.
  2. Expanding and protecting equitable access to outdoor recreation experiences.
  3. Promoting Connecticut both as an outdoor recreation tourism destination and as a place to live, work and play outside.

What's New!

Partnerships in Parks header image of people tubing on a river

Partnerships in Parks – RFP for Paddlecraft Rentals in Seven State Parks

DEEP has issued a Request for Proposals for canoe, kayak and/or stand-up paddleboard rental services to the public at seven state parks including:

  • Burr Pond State Park, Torrington
  • Hopeville Pond State Park, Griswold
  • Indian Well State Park, Shelton
  • Lake Waramaug State Park, Kent
  • Mount Tom State Park, Litchfield
  • Pattaconk Reservoir/Lake Recreation Area, Cockaponset State Forest, Chester/Haddam
  • Squantz Pond State Park, New Fairfield

DEEP invites all canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard or paddleboat operators and outfitters to review this RFP, attend the informational meeting on February 5 and site visits from February 9-11 and apply before the deadline of February 27, 2026.

Additional Details:

DEEP will host a Public Informational Webinar about the RFP and welcomes all interested parties who are considering submitting proposals to join. The informational meeting will be held on February 5, 2026, from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST via Zoom. To join the informational webinar, click here.

DEEP will host site visits at each state park location listed in the RFP to answer questions from prospective proposers. Attendance at the site visits is optional however registration is required. To register, email Tenia Seay at DEEP.parksdivisionRFP@ct.gov no less than twenty-four hours before the site visit. The site visit will only occur if DEEP receives registration requests.

Site visits will take place from February 9-11, 2026, following the schedule below:

  • February 9, 2026
    • 10:00am: Indian Well State Park in Shelton
    • 1:00pm: Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield
  • February 10, 2026
    • 10:00am: Hopeville Pond State Park in Griswold
    • 1:00pm: Pattaconk Lake Recreation Area in Chester/Haddam
  • February 11, 2026
    • 10:00am: Lake Waramaug State Park in Kent
    • 11:30am: Mount Tom State Park in Litchfield
    • 1:30pm: Burr Pond State Park in Torrington

To learn more about each location, view the Paddlecraft Rental RFP Location Specification Sheet 

Call for Mobile Food Trucks in Select State Parks

DEEP State Parks is seeking to expand the available mobile food and beverage concession options at certain State Parks through the Special Use Itinerant Vendor License process. Itinerant Vending is a temporary license that authorizes mobile food service facilities (e.g., mobile food truck or mobile food trailer) to provide food and beverages to the general public during the recreation season at a specific State Park. The number of available vendor spaces and the locations which accept itinerant vending vary.

DEEP State Parks has identified the following locations for itinerant vending food and beverage services:

  • Black Rock State Park in Watertown – 3 spaces available.
  • Bluff Point State Park and Coastal Reserve in Groton – 1 space available with location specific limitations.
  • Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill – 2 spaces available with location specific limitations and food vendor type preferences.
  • Salt Rock State Park Campground in Baltic – 2 spaces available.
  • Stratton Brook State Park in Simsbury – 1 space available with location specific limitations and food vendor type requirements.

Please reach out to DEEP.specialuse@ct.gov for more information on the licensing process, what types of food and beverage vendors each park location is seeking, and any other questions you may have. Note: Special Use is an application-based licensing process that has an associated application fee, insurance requirements, and additional permitting needs. 

Share Your Ideas for New Experiences, Services and Amenities in CT State Parks

View the Request for Information (RFI) overview and supporting documents at the Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences new RFI webpage.

Stay Connected

Sign up for the Connecticut Outdoor Industry & Experiences email newsletter. Connecticut has 110 State Parks with amazing facilities, trails, beaches, campgrounds, and more for the public to enjoy. Through new and expanded partnerships, we aim to elevate outdoor recreation experiences, increase equitable access to the outdoors, and expand tourism destinations in these State Parks. This email newsletter will deliver the latest information about these efforts and new partnership opportunities.

Sign up for Connecticut Outdoor Industry & Experiences newsletter

Newsletter archive: October 2025  |  August 2025  |  May 2025

Contact DEEP.PartnershipsInParks@ct.gov with any additional questions.