Members of the legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus are questioning numerous aspects of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s decision to adjust hours of state parks and beaches.
Objections included safety and economic concerns, as well as the manner in which caucus members were notified of the changes.
“I have some significant concerns,” Sen. Catherine Osten, D-Sprague, the Senate co-chairwoman of the caucus, said. .
DEEP officials announced last week that three campgrounds, including Devil’s Hopyard in East Haddam, Salt Rock in Baltic, and Green Falls in Voluntown, would be closed shortly after today, July 4.
The agency also outlined changes to schedules for lifeguards at state park beaches, as well as operating hours for state park museums and nature centers to reduce the agency’s budget by about $1.8 million.
Osten questioned how DEEP intends to keep beaches safe when lifeguards are off duty, how the agency plans to maintain the security of campgrounds after they’re closed, and the impact to those who already have reservations.
Furthermore, Osten said, she and her colleagues were initially notified of the closings through a news release rather than being included in the process.
“I find that to be slightly disrespectful and distasteful,” she said. “In a rush to get things done by July 1, there was a disconnect in handling what I call common courtesy … I think they had an obligation to include us in the conversation. Right now, we have an absence of information.”
Caucus members questioned the response times to emergency situations in the event of an accident during off-hours.
“There’s no real way to secure many of these facilities,” Rep. Linda Orange, D-Colchester, the House co-chairwoman of the caucus, said, noting that it could be days before authorities are notified of an emergency.
“I don’t agree with some of their decisions,” Rep. Melissa Ziobron, R-East Haddam, said of DEEP officials, adding that as a member of both the caucus and the Environment Committee, being notified through a press release was “really disappointing.”
Rep. Craig Miner, R-Litchfield, called it “quite odd” for DEEP officials to suggest that families can simply go to an open campground or park if their usual spot is closed.
“It almost sounds to me like this was written by someone who never went camping,” he said of the news release. “I question whether the people making these decisions have ever been in a sleeping bag, and I certainly question whether these are going to have the economic benefit someone’s claiming that they have.”
Osten added that limiting operational hours of Gillette Castle, which charges a fee for castle tours, raises questions about DEEP’s decision regarding revenues versus expenditures, which prompted Rep. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, to request a line item report on savings.
“We’re going to lose revenue by closing some of these parks,” Candelora said, noting that some parks have closed concession stands that if reopened, would provide additional income.
“We’re not spending a lot of money at these sites,” Osten said.
Rep. Pamela Staneski, R-Milford, said that some of the closings will have a detrimental effect on families that have made a tradition of utilizing campgrounds because they can’t afford hotel bills during vacations.
“DEEP’s making these decisions that I think has some unintended consequences to the surrounding area and what they’re losing,” she said, noting that she finds it upsetting that families will have fewer opportunities to spend their money in Connecticut.
Osten said she intends to draft a letter to DEEP seeking answers and also is requesting DEEP representatives attend the July caucus meeting.
