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. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an '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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10/23/2024

Governor Lamont Announces $30 Million Investment for Infrastructure Improvements at State Parks

Funding Continues Lamont Administration’s Historic Investments for Restore CT State Parks Initiative

(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont, chairman of the State Bond Commission, today announced that the commission voted at its meeting this morning to approve an allocation of $30 million that will be used for infrastructure repairs and refurbishment needed across the Connecticut State Parks system, including $3 million that will be used to make critical repairs at state parks impacted by the extreme flash flooding event Connecticut experienced on August 18, 2024.

This funding supports the Restore CT State Parks initiative, which is an historic effort by the Lamont administration and the state legislature to address the backlog of needed repairs across Connecticut’s 110 state parks and 32 state forests. Since 2022, the state has committed more than $70 million of American Rescue Plan Act and state bond funds to support investment in outdoor recreation across Connecticut.

The August 18 flooding event caused serious damage at Larkin Trail State Park (Middlebury, Naugatuck, Oxford, Southbury), Kettletown State Park (Southbury), Southford Falls State Park (Southbury), and other outdoor recreational areas in the vicinity. This investment will support the most urgent repairs, including stabilizing affected areas to prevent future damage and addressing critical public safety concerns.

“Our state parks and forests are a big part of our incredible quality of life in Connecticut,” Governor Lamont said. “These destinations are also well-loved, welcoming an estimated 17 million visitors annually – that’s more than four times the population of Connecticut. We’re restoring our parks to ensure that residents and visitors now and into the future can have a wonderful outdoor recreation experience in Connecticut.”

The Connecticut State Parks system is administered and maintained by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).

“Thanks to the governor’s and the legislature’s historic commitment, we’ve already made significant progress addressing our backlog of repairs and refurbishment, completing dozens of projects with many more projects in process,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said. “From brand-new windows in the Heublein Tower, to terrace reconstruction at Gillette Castle, to a new boardwalk at Rocky Neck, and countless more projects, we’re delivering an improved parks experience for current and future visitors.”

Under the Restore CT State Parks initiative, DEEP is working on projects across the state to improve ADA access, repair historic and cultural infrastructure, such as Gillette Castle, Fort Trumbull, and Heublein Tower; and address critical maintenance backlogs, such as paving and bathhouse and utility repairs.

For more information on Restore CT State Parks, including a list of projects completed, in progress, or planned, click here.

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