Groundbreaking for $11 Million Hammonasset Beach State Park Upgrades

Governor Dannel P. Malloy announced that Hammonasset Beach State Park – Connecticut’s most popular state park – will soon be getting a new look, with two big projects on the horizon costing $11 million, including a brand new Meigs Point Nature Center and improvements to West Beach.

The Governor joined state and local officials and park advocates for a groundbreaking ceremony at the state park on Friday to commemorate the state of the improvements, which are anticipated to be complete around this time next year.

“In order to build a brighter tomorrow, we are making important enhancements to our state park system today. It’s our goal to deliver access to quality state parks to all our residents and visitors, so they can take advantage of the all beautiful natural features of our state,” Governor Malloy said in a prepared statement.

The new nature center will provide a modern, state-of-the-art environmental education venue, and the West Beach improvements will include a new bath house, which will give park visitors a comfortable, modern and attractive service area to replace a building that was heavily damaged by recent storms.

“These projects are examples of important steps here at Hammonasset and throughout our park system to provide top-rated outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and visitors,” Governor Malloy added. “Connecticut has a state park system that we can be proud of, and we’re doing everything we can to ensure that they can be enjoyed by many more generations of residents and visitors.”

A new, 4,000-square-foot Meigs Point Nature Center will replace the existing, outdated facility, and will provide a modern, year-round environmental education facility for use by the public and educators. The building will have environmental exhibit space, modern bathroom facilities and an outdoor observation deck for environmental education classes. The former nature center will remain as an administration building. The Friends of Hammonasset have been partners in this project and have committed to raise funds to design and construct all exhibits.

Storm damaged facilities at West Beach will be replaced with a 3,430-square-foot building that includes new, modern bathrooms and changing areas, offices for Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police, a First Aid Station, and Concession Service Area with covered outdoor dining area. The project also includes reconstruction of a parking area – with spaces for 750 cars as well as bus parking – and new recreational facilities including beach volleyball courts, a children’s play area, and a paved pedestrian bicycle trail.

“We appreciate the support of the Governor and legislature, who have made $60 million available over the past few years for capital improvements throughout our park system,” Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Commissioner Rob Klee said in a prepared statement. “We also appreciate our longstanding partnership with Friends of Hammonasset, and today we begin a new relationship with them as we break ground for the nature center – a terrific example of a public/private partnership.

Commissioner Klee added, “It is also important to note that we are relocating the new West Beach bathhouse to move it further inland and also building it up higher off the ground. This is in recognition of climate change impacts and changing conditions on our shoreline.”

Department of Administrative Services Commissioner Melody Currey said, “The staff in our Construction Services division take immense pride in projects like these. They are projects that will have a tremendous impact on Hammonasset Beach now and in the future. Our DAS team cannot think of a better way to kick off the beginning of the Memorial Day weekend then this ground breaking for these two new facilities for Connecticut.”

“The West Beach bathhouse and new Meigs Point Nature Center will be a wonderful enhancement to Hammonasset Beach State Park,” Christine Koster, President of the Friends of Hammonasset, said in a prepared statement. “We at the Friends of Hammonasset are honored to be planning and funding the very educational exhibits at the new nature center. I would be remiss if I did not thank the State of Connecticut, Dave Rathbun from the Friends of Hammonasset, and the design committee team for all of their efforts and hard work.”

Connecticut’s state park system features 109 parks that offer swimming, hiking, picnicking, camping, boating, fishing, and nature programs. The parks attract more than eight million visitors each year.

History of Hammonasset

Hammonasset Beach State Park opened to the public on July 18, 1920. It was an immediate success, attracting over 75,000 visitors – from across the state and nation - in the first season.

During World War II, the park was closed to the public and loaned to the federal government as an army reservation. Meigs Point functioned as an aircraft range. Planes flew over Clinton Harbor, fired at the range and then flew out over Long Island Sound.

Today, over two million people visit the 1,100-acre Hammonasset Beach State Park each year. Out of all the Connecticut state parks, it has the largest beach frontage, measuring two miles, and attracts the most visitors. Park visitors enjoy everything from swimming, walking on the beach and boardwalk, camping, bicycling, and picnicking. It is also the perfect spot for bird watching. With more than 231 species of birds at the park, Hammonasset is one of the premier bird-watching spots in America.