Fight Continues In Quest To Stop Silver Sands Project

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

MILFORD, CT – The Milford politician leading the fight against the $9 million-plus renovation project at Silver Sands State Park said the battle goes on despite the state Bond Commission’s Wednesday approval of the project.

The Bond Commission voted overwhelmingly, with two opposing, the funding that will be used to construct a bath house building, lifeguard and staff office, concession building, and a maintenance facility.

"Today’s decision was deeply disappointing, but not at all surprising,” said Milford State Sen. Gayle Slossberg. “This project has been widely opposed from the beginning, and that opposition has consistently been ignored. The simple fact is that no one wants this project and the State of Connecticut cannot afford it.”

Slossberg added: “People from within my district and other communities in Connecticut joined me at Silver Sands yesterday to express their opposition to this ill-conceived project. They know that the significant construction being pushed through by the state of Connecticut will ruin the tranquil appeal of this beach, which draws visitors from around all the state.

“Paving over and building on a natural environment does not improve it, it ruins it. Silver Sands is unique in its character, and the proposed construction will ruin that, turning it into the kind of cookie cutter beach that we do not need more of. If people want to go to that beach, they can, but they come to Silver Sands seeking a purely natural environment in which to relax. The state is willing to spend over $9.1 million to take that away.”

“This construction is not right for Silver Sands, and it is not right for Connecticut,” Slossberg continued. “Our state continues to face serious financial hardships and deficits. State funds should be invested in our schools, our transportation infrastructure, our social safety net, or any other item that will help move this state forward. Spending such a large amount on an unwanted and unneeded construction project at a state park is irresponsible.

“Today’s decision is disappointing, but it does not change the commitment of myself and others around Connecticut to fighting this construction. We will continue to work to identify ways to stop the damage this project will do to Silver Sands State Park,” Slossberg said.

As to what Slossberg and others opposed to the project can do to stop it – now that the Bond Commission has approved – her press aide said they would be studying their options.

Meanwhile, Milford Mayor Ben Blake, too, expressed his disappointment in the vote.

“Despite this morning’s bond commission vote, we’ll continue to advocate for more sensible State priorities,” Blake said.

“The State’s plan to spend another 10 million dollars for Silver Sands State Park to build massive ticket booths, maintenance facilities, and beachside administrative offices that no one wants at the same time state government continues to slash funding, including cutting lifeguards that would help keep Silver Sands swimmers safe, just doesn’t make sense,” added the mayor.

Blake added: “I’ll keep pushing our position that what Connecticut really needs is safe beaches staffed with lifeguards, as well as the Park’s natural environment kept-up, and avoid any expensive projects which will have such a huge negative impact on the traffic, parking and public safety in the streets and neighborhoods adjacent to Silver Sands.”

Governor Dannel Malloy, a member of the Bond Commission, who voted in favor, said he was aware of the opposition but said, “This is a state park as opposed to a municipal park.”

Malloy said Silver Sands “doesn’t’ have appropriate facilities,” adding that without bathrooms at the park “it is difficult to change babies there.”

Photo credit: Jack Kramer