Most States Parks Re-Opening November 3

Most state parks will re-open Saturday morning, November 3, according to a press release from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Some parks remain closed. [See table below.]

As always, park patrons are urged to use caution on trails and forest roads, as some debris remains after the storm. Patrons should also be aware of potential danger from hanging limbs or storm-damaged trees.

“I want to thank all of the DEEP staff who worked so hard before, during, and after Hurricane Sandy to prepare our parks for the storm, and get them re-opened to the public as soon as possible,” said DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty. “There is still a good deal of work to do — especially at our coastal parks — but re-opening almost all of our parks less than a week after a major hurricane is testament to the hard work and dedication of the DEEP staff.”

Two particular parks to note:

• Hammonasset Beach State Park will partially reopen on Saturday.  The public may access the East Beach and Meigs Point portions of the park, but West Beach and Middle Beach remain closed as those areas are being utilized as a staging area for utility and debris management contractors.
• Silver Sands State Park in Milford will open on Saturday as well, but the boardwalk will remain closed as it sustained serious damage in the storm.  We urge the public to please stay away from the damaged portions of the boardwalk.

Other areas will be open as soon as conditions allow. Check DEEP’s State Park website (http://www.ct.gov/deep/stateparks) for updates on which parks remain closed.

Parks remaining closed:

State Park

Town

Status

West

Haystack Mountain SP

Norfolk

Closed

Mount Tom SP

Litchfield

Closed

Talcott Mountain SP / Heublein Tower

Simsbury

Closed

Sleeping Giant SP

Hamden

Closed

Collis P. Huntington SP

Redding

Closed

Sherwood Island SP

Westport

Closed

Kettletown SP

Southbury

Closed

Squantz Pond SP

New Fairfield

Closed

East

Chatfield Hollow SP

Killingworth

Closed

Gillette Castle SP

East Haddam

Visitor Center and Castle, Closed;

Park Grounds, Open