State's Budget Crisis May Impact Hammonasset Beach State Park

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

MADISON, CT – It could be another tough spring and summer season for the more than 140 state parks and forests, including the largest shoreline park in the state - Hammonasset Beach State Park - due to the state’s continuing budget crisis.

But those who are advocates for state’s parks and forests are trying to be proactive, by pushing an agenda that would raise badly needed funding for the stressed Department of Energy and Environmental Protection budget.

Lawmakers are considering proposals to generate revenues to sustain the parks and forests. One proposal, called “Passport to the Parks’’ would raise $14.5 million per year through a $10 vehicle registration fee to be paid every other year.

The “passport” would allow drivers with Connecticut plates to enter state parks for free, while visitors from other states would have to pay entry fees.

Another bill proposed by Sen. Ted Kennedy, Jr., would create a nickel tax on plastic bags. The more than $16 million annually would be set aside to help maintain state parks.

Eric Hammerling, executive director of the Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA), made a passionate pitch to state legislators, surrounded by advocates for the same cause, recently to not forget the state’s forest and parks

“Protecting state lands and generating adequate funds for their upkeep are critical issues the General Assembly is considering, and we are greatly encouraged by the bipartisan champions we see here today,” Hammerling said.

DEEP budget cuts last year resulted in a 45 percent reduction in seasonal workers' hours, said Hammerling. The cuts were enacted after the July 4 weekend, and three state park campgrounds were closed.

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget proposal for next fiscal year reduces DEEP’s budget by $2.2 million. That’s on top of the $1.85 million budget cut that was carried forward from this fiscal year.

Meanwhile, Connecticut environmentalists have no friend in President Donald Trump, who is proposing to cut the federal Environmental Protection Agency budget by 31 percent. State officials state that would translate into a $6 million cut to Connecticut’s environmental budget.

Last year, again due to budget cuts, lifeguards were cut back at Hammonasset. In addition, staffing for maintenance and lawn-mowing has been reduced at all state parks.

The murky waters Hammonasset and other state parks are in are obvious. A visit to Hammonasset’s website finds this ominous message: “All camping season dates should be considered tentative, based on currently available resources and projections of future resources. A final decision on camping season dates and campground closures will be made in the spring of 2017, after the adoption of the state budget.”

Currently, about 9 million visitors come through the parks each year, and operating costs are about $18 million, which funds everything including salaries for 70 staff and 500 seasonal workers.