Zupkus “Adopts” Area State Parks

HARTFORD — State Rep. Lezlye Zupkus has “adopted” Canal State Park Trail and West Rock Ridge State Park, joining a coalition of state park and greenway advocates in the Connecticut’s legislature. The Friends of Connecticut State Parks and the Connecticut Forest and Park Association are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the state park system, and legislators such as Zupkus have joined the effort to promote and protect the state’s natural attributes by adopting parks. She has been added to the park system’s Honor Roll of legislators. Zupkus will use her position as a legislator to advocate for the needs of Canal State Park Trail (Cheshire, Hamden) and West Rock Ridge State Park (Bethany, Hamden, New Haven and Woodbridge) and work with park officials to continually understand and raise awareness to their assets and needs.

The Farmington Canal Heritage Trail is a non-motorized transportation path built on a historic rail corridor formally known as the Canal Line. It covers roughly 84 miles (about 70 percent is completed) from New Haven to Northampton, Mass. and is part of the East Coast Greenway.

West Rock Ridge State Park, roughly 1,800 acres, is one of the most prominent features of the New Haven region, offering visitors spectacular views of New Haven Harbor and Long Island Sound.
Over a dozen legislators have signed pledges to adopt state parks and greenways in their districts. There are 107 state parks in Connecticut, and according to a UConn Economic Study, the state parks employ 9,000 people each year and bring $1 billion to the state’s economy.
Zupkus represents the 89th General Assembly District covering Bethany, Cheshire and Prospect.

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