Press Releases
05/23/2025
DEEP Highlights Connecticut State Parks as Memorial Day Weekend Kicks Off the Summer Tourism Season
State Continues to Invest in Restoring and Improving State Parks and Forests Which See More Than 15 Million Visitors Annually and Contribute Greatly to Quality of Life in Connecticut
(HARTFORD, CT) – Memorial Day Weekend marks the unofficial start to the busy summer parks season, and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is highlighting the extraordinary outdoor recreation opportunities our State Parks and Forests have to offer, some of the ways we’re working to improve access and the user experience in our parks, and important things to remember in order to have a fun, safe, summer.
Connecticut’s 110 State Parks and 32 State Forests offer an array of outdoor recreation opportunities for Connecticut residents, from shoreline beaches and inland lakes and ponds to amazing hiking, boating, fishing, and camping opportunities. DEEP welcomes more than 15 million visitors to Connecticut State Parks and Forests each year, and recognizing the tremendous contribution these beautiful natural resources make to the quality of life in Connecticut, the Lamont Administration made an historic commitment of $70.7 million to Restore CT State Parks to fund needed infrastructure and refurbishment projects in the parks. DEEP has already completed more than 40 significant projects in parks all over the state. The State also continues to identify ways to improve residents’ access to the parks and their user experience through new and existing initiatives like Passport to the Parks, ParkConneCT, All-terrain Wheelchairs, and Partnerships in Parks.
“We are making your Connecticut State Parks more accessible than ever before,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “Thanks to Gov. Lamont and our partners in the State Legislature, we’ve been hard at work putting Restore CT State Parks funding to use to improve roads, restrooms, electrical infrastructure, campgrounds, boat launches and more to ensure that these well-loved parks remain for the next generation of Connecticut residents. And, once again this summer, visitors arriving at our beautiful state parks in Connecticut-registered vehicles pay no parking fees thanks to the Passport to the Parks program. We’re making it even easier to access your State Parks, and we hope you have a fun and safe summer season in the parks.”
How We’re Improving Access and the User Experience in Connecticut State Parks:
Restore CT State Parks: With the Lamont Administration’s historic commitment of $70.7 million to support infrastructure repair and refurbishment needed across the State Park system, visitors will begin to see improvements this year in various State Parks and Forests. To call out just a few: take in scenic views of the Connecticut River from the reconstructed terrace at Gillette Castle; get your beach fix while strolling the rebuilt boardwalk at Rocky Neck; enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the Farmington River Valley through the sparkling new windows in the Heublein Tower observation deck; enjoy a smooth ride to popular Chatfield Hollow on the repaved entrance road; and campers will enjoy a new bathhouse facility at Salt Rock State Campground. We have dozens more projects lined up in parks and forests all over the state. A full list of projects by park location is available at https://portal.ct.gov/deep/state-parks/restore-ct-state-parks.
CTParks.com: The official Connecticut State Parks website, CTparks.com, offers an easy way to discover new destinations for your next adventure. Select “Explore our Parks” to search parks by activity. Whether you like to bike, hike, swim or picnic, you’ll find a curated list of some of Connecticut’s best destinations. One of our favorite features is the “While you’re here” section, which recommends food, lodging, and other attractions near the park to make the most of your visit.
Passport to the Parks: The Passport to the Parks fund has made our state parks, forests, trails, historic sites, and beaches more accessible and available to our residents by eliminating parking fees for those with Connecticut registered vehicles. For a modest fee equivalent to $8 per year, included with motor vehicle registration, those driving a Connecticut-registered vehicle can pop into the park for a quick visit on their way home from work or come and go without having to pay a parking fee. Compare that to the $22 daily fee for other vehicles visiting Hammonasset Beach State Park on the weekend, and you can see the value. The program has succeeded in its dual goal of eliminating the daily parking fees which may have been an impediment to some of our residents enjoying their parks and also of providing a stable and predictable funding source to support the operations of our state parks and forests. The funds generated by the Passport to the Parks program go toward the cost of hiring hundreds of seasonal employees that operate the parks and has supported the hiring of twelve permanent maintainers and a district operations supervisor to provide operations and maintenance year-round.
ParkConneCT: This summer, DEEP and our partners at CTDOT will announce a revamped ParkConneCT program that will provide shuttles to hands-on guided excursions for residents at select State Parks, keeping with the theme of connecting residents to their State Parks. Stay tuned for more information on this summer’s ParkConneCT excursions coming soon!
Partnerships in Parks: Through the newly created Office of Outdoor Industry & Experiences, DEEP seeks new partnerships to help achieve its goals of elevating outdoor recreation and visitor experiences, expanding tourism destinations, and providing equitable and sustainable access to the outdoors. Through the office thus far, we have two new partnerships with kayak vendors that will be in place this summer: Kayak rentals at Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield by Candlewood Kayak Rental; and Kayak rentals at West Rock Ridge State Park (Lake Wintergreen) in New Haven by Kingfisher Adventures. The office also recently issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for qualified food service vendors to provide services to the public at existing concession buildings at Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam, Lake Waramaug State Park in Kent, and Mount Tom State Park in Litchfield.
All-Terrain Wheelchairs: DEEP recently announced that users can reserve all-terrain wheelchairs, which will be available to use for free this summer in seven Connecticut State Park and Forest locations beginning June 7. All-terrain wheelchairs will be available at the following state park and forest locations: Gillette Castle, Dinosaur, Rocky Neck, Harkness Memorial, Stratton Brook, Topsmead and Wadsworth Falls. More information and how to book a reservation can be found at All-Terrain Wheelchairs | Connecticut State Parks and Forests.
Things to Know for the Summer Parks Season:
Plan Ahead - Check DEEP’s Social Media Channels Before You Go: DEEP recommends that anyone planning to visit a state park or boat launch, especially on sunny weekends and holidays, check for capacity closures before visiting. This information is routinely posted on X (formerly Twitter) at @CTStateParks and @CTBoatingInfo. If your desired destination is closed, use CTParks.com to search for other nearby destinations.
Swimming and Water Safety: Lifeguards will provide coverage beginning Memorial Day weekend at three state park beaches: Hammonasset Beach State Park, Rocky Neck State Park, and Sherwood Island State Park. Lifeguard coverage will increase throughout June to include additional locations and days per week as lifeguards finish school and become available. Additional locations include Silver Sands State Park, Burr Pond State Park, Black Rock State Park, Indian Well State Park, and Squantz Pond State Park. DEEP anticipates that all eight swim areas will be staffed prior to the July 4 holiday.
DEEP urges all residents and visitors getting in or on the water to prioritize water safety. Water temperatures continue to be cold this time of year, despite warmer air temperatures. There is an increased danger of hypothermia for swimmers, particularly children, exposed to cold water for any extended period.
Some helpful tips for those planning to spend time in or near the water:
- Children should be actively supervised by a parent/caregiver at all times when around water.
- No one, including strong swimmers, should ever swim alone.
- Know your limits, including physical fitness and medical conditions.
- Children, non-swimmers, inexperienced swimmers, and all boaters should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
Additionally, DEEP’s Water Quality Monitoring Program is back in action this season, testing the waters of 21 designated swim areas in state parks across Connecticut. Water quality information is published online at https://ctparks.com/water-quality-report.
Camping: All of Connecticut’s state park and forest campgrounds are fully booked for Memorial Day weekend. However, there still is plenty of availability for the remainder of the summer season. Reservations for all state campgrounds can be made online through Reserve America at connecticutstateparks.reserveamerica.com or by calling 1-877-668-CAMP (2267).
Boating Safety: DEEP manages 117 state boat launches across Connecticut on ponds, lakes, rivers, and Long Island Sound, and all are free to use. Information and directions to these facilities can be found online at portal.ct.gov/deep/boating/boating-and-paddling.
While all state boat launches are accessible throughout the year, DEEP reminds boaters that late spring water temperatures remain colder than the air and can pose substantial dangers to unprepared boaters. To prevent serious consequences from an unexpected cold-water immersion, boaters should exercise caution by using proper equipment, practicing safe techniques, and avoiding dangerous situations.
Some helpful tips for those planning to go boating this spring:
- Always wear your life jacket: DEEP recommends all boaters wear a personal floatation device (PFD) year-round. However, Connecticut law requires anyone in a kayak, canoe, rowboat, or stand-up paddleboard to wear a properly fitting PFD from October 1 through May 31. If a boater ends up in the water, a life jacket will keep them afloat and make them more visible, significantly improving their chances of survival.
- Never paddle alone: If a boater ends up in the water, a partner can help you get back into the boat or reach shore safely.
- Dress for cold water: Paddlers should dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature. Water temperatures can vary greatly around the state during the spring, but all are still below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold water immersion increases the risk of cold-water shock and involuntary gasp reflex, which is a leading cause of drowning.
- File a float plan: Draft a float plan that includes your boating location, expected time of departure and return, and who to call in case of emergency. Give the float plan to someone at home, and be sure to call them once you are back ashore safely.
- Maintain a proper lookout: Higher water levels in the spring can dislodge items like docks, pilings, and trees and leave them floating in rivers and into Long Island Sound. Boaters should be especially vigilant early in the season to look for and avoid this floating debris.
Seasonal Employment Opportunities: Many seasonal jobs at Connecticut’s state parks remain available this summer, including positions for lifeguards, park rangers, maintenance, and more, particularly in the northwest corner of the state. For information on these opportunities, visit workoutside.ct.gov.
Help Take Care of Your State Parks – Be a Good Steward: The state parks belong to all residents of Connecticut, so everyone has a responsibility to keep them clean for the next visitor. DEEP implores visitors to dispose of any waste in a receptacle or take it with them if there isn’t one – remember to carry out what you carry in. If everyone does their part, Connecticut State Parks will remain beautiful for the next generation.
Show your support: Love your Connecticut State Parks? Pick up a t-shirt or poster of your favorite park featuring an original DEEP design at Shop.CTParks.com. Any proceeds generated support the Passport to the Parks program.
About CT State Parks: Established in 1913, the mission of the Connecticut State Park System is to provide natural resource-based public recreational and educational opportunities through a system of state park and forest recreation areas, environmental centers, and nature centers that provide an understanding of, access to, and enjoyment of, the state’s historic, cultural, and natural resources.
- Twitter: @CTDEEPNews
- Facebook: DEEP on Facebook
Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110