Waterford Will Be Home to 1st Shoreline State Park in 50+ Years: Malloy

The approximately 32-acre property in Waterford commonly known as “Seaside” will become Connecticut’s first shoreline state park in more than 50 years, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said at a Tuesday, Sept. 30, press conference.

The following information is from a press release sent by Malloy’s office.

Converting the property, which borders Long Island Sound, into a state park will preserve the grounds while also maintaining public access to the beautiful shoreline, Malloy said.

“This is a beautiful piece of land that should be used for the direct benefit and enjoyment of the residents of Waterford and the State of Connecticut,” he said. “Representative Betsy Ritter and Senator Andrea Stillman have been strongly advocating for terminating the contract and preserving public access to this spectacular property, and I think they are absolutely right. We’ve given this developer more than enough time to make his plans come to fruition, and we now have an opportunity reassess the future of this property and allow the people of Connecticut to enjoy its natural beauty for generations.”

What do you think about the plans? What would you like to see at Seaside? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

While the property is owned by the state, it has been subject to a contract with a private developer since 2010, prior to Governor Malloy’s term in office. The Governor today announced that the Department of Administrative Services has notified the developer that the state is terminating that contract.

Malloy is directing the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), and the Office of Policy and Management (OPM) to work together to determine the costs of preserving whatever historically significant property can be preserved, removing what cannot be saved, and designing and establishing appropriately-scaled facilities for park users.

Waterford Will Have Time to Give Input

He emphasized his commitment to working with the local community during the planning process.

“This must be done with the involvement of the local community, so I am directing DEEP to hold public hearings in Waterford to ensure that the planning process is informed by the community’s thoughts on the appropriate use of the property,” Malloy said.

He is asking the state agencies to conclude their review by Jan. 1, 2015.

A Perfect Capstone

“Governor Malloy’s action to preserve Seaside as a state park is a perfect capstone to the celebration of the Centennial of our park system,” DEEP Commissioner Rob Klee said. “Designating these scenic lands as a new state park helps guarantee that our residents and visitors have expanded access to our Long Island Sound waters and the first-rate outdoor recreational activities they provide. This is the perfect way to launch the second century of our state park system.”

“For years, Representative Ritter and I pressured the previous Governor to take action on this property, and for years our urging fell on deaf ears,” State Senator Andrea Stillman said. “I’m glad that in Governor Malloy we have a leader who doesn’t just sit on the sidelines and do what is politically expedient — he does what is best for our state. In this case, the Governor has offered an outstanding proposal for the future of Seaside, one that preserves the environment while maintaining public access to the property. This may be a once in a generation opportunity — the chance to create a coastal state park — and I’m excited that it is happening here in Waterford.”

“I’m very pleased to see the Governor’s response to our insistence that when it comes to Seaside, enough is enough,” said State Representative Betsy Ritter. “For too long, the future of Seaside has been a great unknown. This proposal offers us one potential future — one that is a win for our environment, a win for Waterford, and a win for the region. There will be ample opportunity for public input on this proposal, and I’m very much looking forward to hearing our neighbors’ thoughts. We have a singular opportunity here and I hope we will take advantage of it.”

The Connecticut State Park System operates under the management of DEEP and currently consists of 107 parks with more than 32,000 acres of land and more than eight million visitors a year. A list of Connecticut’s state parks, including visitor information, can be found on the DEEP website.

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Photo Credit: Waterford CT Democrats