Hammonasset Beach State Park To Suffer Due To State's Massive Budget Deficit

Originally written by Jack Kramer, Correspondent

MADISON, CT – Lovers of the state’s beaches and parks already felt they had a target on their backs before Gov. Dannel P. Malloy came out with his latest budget plan this week to try and deal with Connecticut’s skyrocketing deficit.

But, a bad situation for the parks, including the largest shoreline park in the state, Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, now even looks a lot worse.

Malloy’s budget would cut an additional $8 million from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and most of that, about $6.4 million, would saved by converting most state parks to “passive management.”

This news comes after last year’s bad news when, 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.

Madison State Rep. Noreen Kokoruda said parks, like Hammonasset have “become a target.’’

“I know people are really concerned,” Kokoruda continued. “The thing about Hammonasset is that it’s used by more people outside the town of Madison than those who live there.

“People plan their summer vacations there. People from other states come there,” Kokoruda said.

What people don’t realize is that while people outside of Madison love to come to Hammonasset to enjoy the beach, the ocean, Meigs Point, and more, “is nobody asks who provides the police and fire protection.

“I’ll tell you who,” said Kokoruda. “It’s the taxpayers of the town of Madison that foot the bill.”

Eric Hammerling, executive director of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association, said the recent layoffs leave only 35 full-time staff to manage 110 state parks.

“The governor’s recommendation would close campgrounds and leave even fewer services available to the public,” Hammerling said. “‘Passive management’ means that visitors will enter at their own risk and witness shameful neglect of the most precious natural resources.”

Kokoruda said she is in agreement with Hammerling’s position that the state should look at adopting a proposal that would require the state Department of Motor Vehicles to levy a $10 fee on vehicle registrations, which would be used to help fund park maintenance.

Anyone with a Connecticut license plate could then enter and park at a state park for free.

“Connecticut’s State Parks generate more than $1 billion, support over 9,000 private sector jobs, and are visited by eight million people every year,” Hammerling said. “Every dollar spent on the parks generates $38 for Connecticut’s coffers. It makes no sense to continue to target them for cuts.”

The so-called “Passports to the Parks” programs time has come, Kokoruda said, adding that it is time that the state park system operates on a self-sustainable budget – or it may not be operating at all.

“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.

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.

(Editor's Note: This story first ran previously but here it is again in case you missed it.)