Six local lawmaker 'adopt' state parks

Six southeastern Connecticut lawmakers are among 40 statewide who have signed up for the Friends of Connecticut State Parks' Adopt-a-Park program, the organization announced today.

The announcement was made the same day the group hosted its annual Friends of Connecticut State Parks Day at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford to showcase the activities of friends' groups and lobby for support for state parks.

There are 23 friends groups statewide with about 6,900 members who have donated 79,000 volunteer hours at state parks projects this year, Friends of Connecticut State Parks said in a news release. The group put the value of the volunteer labor a $2.2 million. The friends groups have donated an additional $6 million in funds to state parks, the news release said.

Local lawmakers who have agreed to adopt a park are: Rep. Timothy Bowles, D-Ledyard, Stoddard Hill State Park, Ledyard; Rep. Marilyn Guiliano, R-Old Saybrook, Nehantic State Forest, Lyme; Rep. Ted Moukawsher, D-Groton, Bluff Point and Fort Griswold state parks, Groton; Rep. Betsy Ritter, D-Waterford, Harkness Memorial State Park, Waterford; Sen. Andrea Stillman, D-Waterford, Harkness and Fort Trumbull State Park, New London; Rep. Elissa Wright, D-Groton, Haley Farm, Fort Griswold and Bluff Point in Groton, and Fort Trumbull.

The Friends of Connecticut State Parks launched the Adopt-a-Park program this month, inviting lawmakers to choose one or more parks or state forests in their district, learn about its assets and needs, help with events such as walks and clean-ups, and advocate for the state parks budget.