Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Rocky Neck State Park is also closed until further notice due to a brush fire. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at a 'very high' or 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Press Releases

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01/14/2019

DEEP Announces Reopening of Wharton Brook State Park in Wallingford

Sleeping Giant Targeted to Open This Spring

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that Wharton Brook State Park in Wallingford has reopened to the public. Wharton Brook State Park has been closed since May 15, 2018 when severe storms impacted the state, causing extensive damage to several state parks.
As a result of the storms that day, hundreds of trees were damaged. DEEP has conducted extensive tree clean-up, stump removal and re-grading throughout the park. DEEP is also currently working closely with the Sleeping Giant Park Association to reopen Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, which also suffered extensive damage as a result of the May 15 storms and remains closed at this time. DEEP currently projects that Sleeping Giant will reopen sometime this spring.
Governor Ned Lamont said, "Wharton Brook and Sleeping Giant are among Connecticut's most popular state parks and we know that people have been anxious for them to re-open. Our first priority is to ensure the safety of all visitors to our state parks, and I want to thank everyone for their patience during these ongoing efforts and for heeding the closure warnings. We're excited that Wharton Brook has re-opened and are hopeful that we'll get Sleeping Giant back open in time as the warmer weather approaches. I want to especially thank all of the state's partners who have assisted in the clean-up efforts – their teamwork with the state is part of what makes Connecticut's natural resources so great."
DEEP Commissioner-designate Katie Dykes said, “We sincerely appreciate the public’s understanding as we work to repair the damage caused by the storms of May 15 and other significant rain events. When park visitors return to Wharton Brook State Park they will find a park that has been significantly altered by Mother Nature and the impacts of climate change. Thanks to help from the Sleeping Giant Park Association we have made significant inroads in clearing the damage along many miles of trails, however much of the park remains unsafe. Once the work of clearing and repairing the trails is substantially complete, DEEP looks forward to reopening Sleeping Giant for visitors.”
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