SENATOR CABRERA WELCOMES STATE INVESTMENT IN NAUGATUCK STATE FOREST

NAUGATUCK – State Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden) today welcomed the news that the State Bond Commission is poised to approve funds for the reconstruction and repair of several pedestrian and vehicular bridges in the Naugatuck State Forest when the commission meets Tuesday, September 8, in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.

The Naugatuck State Forest improvements are part of $10 million in alterations, renovations, and new construction at state parks and recreational facilities across Connecticut that the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection will undertake in the coming year.

“One of the big reasons for Connecticut’s excellent quality of life is all of our public green spaces, including the Naugatuck State Forest. Maintaining the bridges there helps people to continue enjoying the great outdoors here in Connecticut,” Sen. Cabrera said.

The Naugatuck State Forest is almost 5,000 acres of wild, undeveloped woodlands, grasslands, rivers, lakes, ravines, and swamp in the scenic Naugatuck River valley. The forest is crossed by several blue-blazed trails, including the Quinnipiac Trail and Naugatuck Trail (including the Whittemore spur), a mountain biking trail network, including miles of singletrack in the Quillinan Block, the Larkin Bridle Trail, and miles of trails for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, trail running, hiking, and more. Along with the trails, the forest is home to a target shooting range, spectacular waterfalls, and some of the best birdwatching in the state.

The massive forest is spread across Naugatuck, Beacon Falls, Oxford, Bethany, Hamden, Cheshire, Ansonia, and Seymour.