Seaside State Park In Waterford Lands $7.1 Million In Funding

WATERFORD, CT — The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has announced that $7.1 million in federal funds have been committed to transform Seaside State Park using a "passive park" design.

The funds are part of the $21.5 million in Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money that the state has authorized for infrastructure improvements across the state park system.

Seaside became a state park in 2014, after serving for many years as a state health care facility.

The renovations for Seaside State Park will include the removal of the deteriorated buildings, the implementation of restrooms and walking trails, shoreline improvements, picnic areas, parking improvements, historic interpretation of the site, and other elements.

“We are excited to move forward with improving this newest state park for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said in a statement. “This is Connecticut’s first new shoreline state park in over 50 years, and we are thrilled to be able to engage in the work, laid out in the Comprehensive Plan, of a passive state park design at this beautiful location. We know there is a significant history at the site that needs to be acknowledged and captured and we look forward to including local officials, the Friends of Seaside State Park, historic preservation advocates, and other interested stakeholders, to identify the best way to honor the memory of these historic buildings in the design of the park.”

Waterford First Selectman Rob Brule called obtaining the funds a "significant first step by the state to transform Seaside into a resource which will allow the citizens of Connecticut to once again safely enjoy this great coastal asset."

The DEEP will be forming a work group in the coming months to begin planning for the passive park design at Seaside.