MADISON, CT – Today, State Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) joined United States Senator Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut) for a tour of the Meigs Point Nature Center at Hammonasset Beach State Park.
“The Meigs Point Nature Center is an amazing resource which provides an engaging environmental education experience for young people and families,” said Sen. Cohen. “Thank you to Meigs Point Nature Center’s director Ranger Russ Miller and the Friends of Hammonasset for the tour of such an important and useful learning tool for our community.”
Ranger Miller led the tour, showing Sen. Cohen and Sen. Murphy the native turtles, snakes, crabs and fish in the state-of-the-art Nature Center. Opened in the spring of 2016, the Nature Center contains multiple exhibits, a gift shop and a patio. The Nature Center offers environmental education for all ages, and due to its location at Hammonasset Beach State Park, they are frequented by many Connecticut families. The Meigs Point Nature Center offers summer programs, birthday parties and off-site learning opportunities as well.
To keep the environment at Hammonasset Beach State Park safe and enjoyable for all whom visit, Sen. Cohen introduced legislation that would ban smoking and vaping on beaches in state parks. The Environment committee, a committee that Sen. Cohen co-chairs, passed Senate Bill 752 with bipartisan support showing a 25-4 tally. It now awaits action by the State Senate and State House of Representatives. If enacted, the ban will go into effect on July 1, 2019.
“As co-chair of the Environment Committee, I was thrilled to see this legislation make it out of committee and eventually onto the State Senate floor,” said Sen. Cohen. “Second hand smoke and vapor presents a litany of health issues for young children and adults. Additionally, discarded cigarette butts and vapor cartridges negatively impact our environment and native animals at our state park beaches.”