Our state parks are in a staffing crisis. As illustrated in this graph, visitor numbers at our parks are reaching record highs, while staffing has been slashed in half. In 2021, prompted by this blunt letter from the supervisors of the Western District to their management team, we started to collect and take note of the numerous voices which have been making this point.

Thanks to all the voices who support our parks, the legislature of the state of Connecticut recently proposed an addition of 15 new positions to the Governor's budget for 2024-2025. The Governor now must approve this budget.  You can make a difference and help our state parks!

Please take action and send an email to Governor Lamont before May 19!
Governor.Lamont@ct.gov

Let him know:

How important state parks are for YOU.

How concerned you are about adequate staffing in the face of record attendance.

That you hope he will support the following items in the final budget:

• 15 new park maintainers and one district park supervisor supported by the “Passport to the Parks” program

• Increased grants to municipalities and nonprofits to improve and extend recreational trails

• Increased investment in repairs and accessibility improvements to state park facilities.

Sign your email with your name and the town you live in.

Want more guidance on how to write a GREAT letter? Check out this guidance from our friends at the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association.

A collection of testimony to the Connecticut General Assembly regarding the Governor's budget as described in act H.B. 6659. 

Lynn Wilkinson, President of the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park.  “The Friends of Gillette Castle support the Governor's budget proposal and appreciate the addition of one critical staff person to support state parks, but this isn’t nearly enough given the record attendance state parks are experiencing, and the multiple challenges which are currently faced through insufficient full-time staffing and an over-reliance on seasonal workers. We describe numerous examples of staffing challenges at Gillette Castle State Park.”  Read the testimony at this link.

Eileen Grant, Board of Directors, Friends of Connecticut State Parks. "ONLY 83 full-time Park workers (inclusive of administrative staff in Hartford) manages the System’s 229,000 acres, its 400+ buildings and its service of 17.4 million visits. This level of staffing is patently absurd and it fosters potential hazard in every facility; it also demonstrates breathtaking disrespect to every citizen who frequents Parks and funds them with their taxes."   Read the testimony at this link.

Eric Hammerling, Executive Director Connecticut Forest and Park Association:  "adding only one employee to the state parks division is simply NOT ENOUGH to make a difference in a beleaguered state park system that has lost 41 full-time field positions over the past 20 years (and over 120 positions over the past 40 years) while attendance to state parks continues to grow dramatically. In the early 1980s, there were over 200 full-time workers dedicated to state park operations and maintenance."  Read the testimony at this link.

Margot Burns, Senior Environmental Planner Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments:  "...we have witnessed the remarkable increase in park visitations to an estimated 17 million visitors in 2021. This is wonderful news for our region and the state but necessitates an increase in park staffing levels to accommodate this rate of visitation, and secure and maintain the incredible recreational and natural resources our parks and forests provide to the citizens of our state."  Read the testimony at this link.

Pamela Aey Adams, board member, Friends of Connecticut State Parks.  "..in the early 1980s there were 287 full-time employees that worked in the state parks, campgrounds and forests. They served a little over 7 million visitors annually.... Fast forward to 2021: Park attendance in 2021 (the most recent available) was 17 million (the highest ever), and today there are only 83 full-time workers (including those based in the administrative staff in Hartford). The budget proposal would increase this number to 84. The loss of full-time workers (200+ to 83) was massive over a 40-year period.  Read the testimony at this link.

Mark Favreau, Citizens' Climate Lobby "Connecticut’s state parks and forests provide habitat for wildlife and public recreation, but the staff who care for them are often stretched thin. We must adequately fund Connecticut DEEP parks’ personnel to keep these places thriving for all who use them and keep Connecticut’s coastal tourism industry strong."  Read the testimony at this link.

Tanya Bourgin, President of the Friends of Machimoodus and Sunrise State Parks. "Connecticut’s State Park and Forest Recreation system is quintessential to our state’s $3.9 billion outdoor recreation economy (2021 direct revenue generation ) and supports over 44,000 private sector jobs. With so many economic, environmental and health benefits derived directly from park usage, it seems illogical and short-sighted not to fully support an entity which provides immeasurable and invaluable assets to our state, its citizens and visitors."  Read the testimony at this link.

Testimony from Hon. Pete Govert, East Haddam "Our weakened woods, coupled with increased park attendance, cries out for more park staff."   Read the testimony at this link.

Paula Coughlin, Connecticut Audubon Society "Connecticut’s state parks and forests provide habitat for wildlife and public recreation, but the staff who care for them are often stretched thin. We must adequately fund Connecticut DEEP parks’ personnel to keep these places thriving for all who use them and keep Connecticut’s coastal tourism industry strong."  Read the testimony at this link.

Robert LaFrance, Connecticut Audubon Society Director of Policy "At Audubon--along with other conservation organizations--we will continue to push for federal wildlife conservation funding laws like RAWA, but we are in a biodiversity crisis now and we need state of Connecticut funding to hire conservation scientists at DEEP NOW!!" ...   We are requesting that the Appropriations Committee add or reallocate $10 million in each year of the Biennium to DEEP’s Environmental Conservation Branch for additional personnel in the Wildlife Division, Marine Fisheries Division and EnCon Law Enforcement Division to support the same level of funding that would have been provided by the federal Recovering America’s Wildlife Act to DEEP (if that Act had passed).   Read the testimony at this link.

Amy Blaymore Patterson, Connecticut Land Conservation Council:  "CLCC supports the proposed increases to DEEP’s staff, including the budget proposal to hire additional employees to support programs and policies that advance environmental equity and justice. However, budget cuts in previous years coupled with a mass exodus of DEEP employees electing to retire have significantly reduced staffing for the agency’s environmental and conservation programs, as well as enforcement and compliance, while their responsibilities continue to grow....One of the state’s top tourism destinations, Connecticut State Parks are worth the investment. Outdoor recreation in Connecticut brings great value to our state -- generating $3.9 billion in revenue and helping to sustain 44,065 jobs in 2021 (National Bureau of Economic Analysis - 2021 Report)"   Read the testimony at this link.

Advocacy for our State Parks from the Friends of Gillette Castle State Park. 2021-2023

2023 testimony:  The Friends of Gillette Castle support the Governor's budget proposal and appreciate the addition of one critical staff person to support State Parks, but this isn’t nearly enough given the record attendance state parks are experiencing, and the multiple challenges which are currently faced through insufficient full-time staffing and an over-reliance on seasonal workers. We describe numerous examples of staffing challenges at Gillette Castle State Park.  Read the testimony at this link.

2022 testimony:  The Friends of Gillette Castle State Park strongly support the proposed increased bonding investment of $15 million for state park infrastructure. We describe examples of how insufficient capital investment has affected Gillette Castle State Park.   Read the testimony at this link.

2021 testimony:  The Friends of Gillette Castle State Park strongly oppose changes to the Passport to the Parks program that would cut funding to the state parks by 50%. We describe the impact of brutal staffing reductions in the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) that occurred during 2016-2018, and how the restoration of funding through Passport to the Parks enabled Gillette Castle to re-open its doors for many popular programs.  Read the testimony at this link.