Expanding State Parks Partnerships
In Goal 16, DEEP aims to build upon existing private sector partnerships to further elevate outdoor recreation experiences, enhance tourism destinations, provide equitable access to State Parks, and support Connecticut’s growing outdoor recreation economy – which is the second largest in New England. Background on this goal is presented in DEEP’s 20BY26, Setting the Target: CT DEEP 2026 Goals (February 2024).
Latest Progress (as of October 1, 2025)
Public demand for outdoor recreation remains strong, with an estimated annual state park visitation at 15.5 million people, well above pre-pandemic levels of approximately 10 million people and increasing at a pace above the national average.
To help meet this growing demand, DEEP released a new standing Request for Information (RFI) in Q3 2025 to encourage park visitors to provide feedback on the types of experiences, services, and amenities they would like to see in State Parks and to invite businesses and other organizations to share their ideas for potential partnerships to provide services in State Parks. Through the initial RFI, DEEP identified new services to enhance outdoor recreation experiences for visitors and released a Draft RFP for Paddlecraft Rentals in State Parks.
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The Office of Outdoor Industry and Experiences now has visited all 23 management units for CT’s 142 State Parks and Forests to connect with the teams that operate them. The Office is also attending, speaking, and presenting at outdoor industry events to promote partnership opportunities with various audiences across the state.
DEEP attended the Outdoor Economy Conference and the Fall Gathering of the Confluence of States, the latter an association of similarly structured state Offices of Outdoor Recreation, to further promote partnerships and opportunities in CT State Parks.
Up Next
DEEP will continue to issue the OOI&E Newsletter to promote opportunities and engage our growing audience, speak with outdoor community groups, promote CT State Parks at local and regional events such as town fairs and the Big E, and promote our State Parks branded product line of posters and t-shirts.
GOAL 16 PROGRESS FROM PREVIOUS QUARTERS
Spring 2025
In Q2 2025, DEEP’s State Parks Division issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to revive food and beverage concessions at three State Parks with existing concession buildings (read the press release here). Through Special Use Licenses, two new paddle craft rental services are now operational at Indian Well State Park in Shelton and Mount Tom State Park in Litchfield. Squantz Pond State Park and West Rock Ridge State Park saw returning paddle craft rental services.
To promote upcoming opportunities, staff participated in the National Parks Hospitality Association Annual Meeting, spoke at the Northeast Outdoor Network Meetup, and served as a panelist on a special segment about CT’s great tourism destinations on WFSB-Channel 3’s “Hello Connecticut” show!
Winter 2025
In January, DEEP welcomed Jeffrey Shaw as Senior Advisor for Outdoor Industry & Experiences to lead the Partnerships in Parks initiative and work with other agencies to promote Connecticut as a great place to live, work, and play outdoors. DEEP met with many of the organizations that submitted concepts to the initial Request for Information (RFI), visited State Parks, and introduced Connecticut to outdoor businesses at the Boston Outdoor Expo to understand potential partnership possibilities. We also received additional partnership concepts that could help expand outdoor recreation in Connecticut State Parks and updated the initiative webpage to continue to encourage and gather more ideas through the original RFI.
Fall 2024
DEEP filled its Senior Advisor for Outdoor Industry & Experience position to start early in 2025. DEEP posted a summary of concepts submitted to the RFI. Staff then conducted an in-depth review of the high impact concepts submitted to the RFI, which included meeting with various submitters, such as The Last Green Valley, Osaki Education Center, and Westport Farmers Market, to gather more information about their concepts.
Summer 2024
DEEP continued to welcome responses to the RFI on a rolling basis and received 3 additional concepts. We also began evaluating the concepts received. With the State Parks Special Use Licenses Coordinator position refilled, DEEP selected 3 low-impact concepts submitted to the RFI to issue Special Use Licenses for new activities including watercraft rentals at Squantz Pond and West Rock Ridge State Parks.
Winter and Spring 2024
Following the early 2024 launch of its new Office of Outdoor Industry & Experience, DEEP issued its Partnership in Parks Request for Information (RFI) and received 45 concepts from the public.
Content last updated February 2026