The Hartford Courant. SUNDAY MARCH 19, 2000 SECTION CONNECTICUT O N T H E W E E K E N D Reviving Neglected State Parks the park system is on the rebound. Under the state's "2010 Plan," 53 of its parks and several Continued Upkeep state forests will receive at least some money. While many applaud the investments, oth- Critical To Success ers are cautious, waiting to see if the state • completes the promised work and continues By MICHAEL GREENWOOD to care for its park system after the current Courant Staff Writer repair binge is over. EAST HADDAM — Stone by stone, Gillette "We need to be working hard and building Castle is being put back together again. the groundswell so this isn't a flash in the pan. We know that we are going to have to Workers are rebuilding its parapets, balco- stay on our toes," nies and unusual stone awnings. Their atten- said Diana McMasters, vice president of tion will soon be turned to the castle's eqi ally Friends of Connecticut State Parks, an advo- rich interior, filled with luxurious woodwork cacy group. "But I think things have turned and unique decor. around. The system had hit bottom. We've From its perch above the Connecticut Riv- gotten a shot in the arm." er, actor William Gillette's troubled fieldstone Projects range from large undertakings to palace-turned-state park is about midway relatively minor gestures. The state plans to through a two-year, $9 million overhaul that lavish some $10 million on Hammonasset should return it to its place as one of the Beach State Park in Madison — consistently state's premier tourist destinations. one of the state's most popular summer desti- And while the Gillette project is enormous, nations — while it will spend $380,000 to shore it's just part of a 12-year parks' improvement up the ramparts at Fort Griswold Battlefield program that is hitting its stride as thou- State Park in Groton. sands of nature lovers prepare for the upcom- TONY BACEWICZ / THE HARTFORD COURANT In most cases, summer visitors to state ing season. The plan runs through 2010 and WINSTON JOHNSON, left, of Windsor and Robert Watson of Middletown strip bark from cedar parks should encounter only minor inconven- poles that will be used to recreate the railroad station at Gillette Castle State Park. In the seeks to resurrect a park system so tattered iences. At Gillette Castle, however, the build- by neglect and deferred maintenance that it background, masons work on scaffolding set up to reconstruct the railroad -station that once ing remains closed to visitors until next year. stood there. had become an embarrassment for many. Hammonasset's park supervisor, Roger When Gov. John G. Rowland announced in Kinderman, lived through the lean years and the best news we've heard. I think there 118 employees, an increase of 26 staff over the 1997 that the state would bond $114 million to knows the hardships. His park offers miles of rebuild a public recreational system that in- should really be some nice services. It's the past few years, said Pamela Adams, director beachfront, camping and one of the premier state's way a giving something back to its of state parks for the state Department of cludes 93 parks and 31 forests, few questioned birdwatching spots in Connecticut. It's a the need. Nearly three years later, about $33 citizens." Environmental Protection. beautiful spot, and it needs to be cared for, he Additional park staff have also been hired During the mid 1980s, there were 258 parks million of that money has been authorized by said. That requires money. the State Bond Commission and some believe — though levels are still far below what they "It's finally been addressed," he said. "It's used to be. The parks system now has about Please see PARKS, Page B2 B2 ♦ THE HARTFORD COURANT ♦ Sunday, March 19, 2000 fire everyone, saying 'You're sup- the time. It, too, has undergone ex- ly less on its parks — $9.2 million — necticut." posed to be losers,' " as Kieval re- tensive renovations. Neither Hark- than every other state except Vir- Condon called. Parks ness or Heublein were part of the ginia, according to The National As- With a booming state economy,' No way," said Klotz to Saper- 2010 plan. sociation of State Park Directors. more money has been available for Continued from Page B1 Continued from Page B1 stein, "and if you let your guard Some of the bigger projects cur- States with similar overall budg- luxuries such as parks. But when down, we'll get you again." employees. A new 16-acre rently underway or planned by the ets spent as much as five times on money is tight as it was in the late With animosity as a motivator, All was forgiven. Kieval, a high state park in being built along the state include: their parks. Kentucky, for instance, 1980s and early 1990s, pressing the two teams banged away at each school and college coach, still does Thames River in New London for Indian Well State Park in Shel- allocated $65 million on its parks. needs such as prisons and educa- other, and the ref didn't call it close- some scouting and officiating for $20 million, and all seven parks ton, where $2.5 million is being Oregon spent nearly $28 million. tion took priority. Former Gov. ly. "We were playing so hard we the Globetrotters, and considers the closed to the public during the spent on a new boat launch, enlarg- Lowell P. Weicker Jr. closed parks didn't even know what the score organization his second family. budget crisis of the early 1990s have ing the beach and installing new State Sen. Eileen M. Daily, D- and maintenance was deferred. was," said Kieval. There's quite a story with the been reopened. toilets and new parking. That work Westbrook, said funding for park re- That era is considered by many to Klotz's set-shot was finding the Globetrotters these days. The team "We've been very, very busy," is expected to be completed this pairs and maintenance has im- be the lowpoint for the state's park bottom of the net time and again. was in decline when it was pur- Adams said. "It's nice to see things year. proved, but more is still needed. system, Adams said. Kieval got a lot of assists. "I always chased in 1993 by former player being done. Things were just really Sherwood Island State Park in "It's certainly not enough. It's not "You've got to hold their feet to passed to Red; he signed the pay- Mannie Jackson, then an executive run down. The need was incredi- Westport, which is slated to get $4 getting us to where we need to be," the fire," he said checks every week." with Honeywell, Inc., for $5.5 mil- ble." million for a new septic system and said Daily, co-chairwoman of the "I was making shots and stealing lion. bathhouses. The work is underway. legislature's environment commit- People need to let their legislator: the ball. The game was very compet- Gillette Castle's luxurious interi- With brainy marketing tie-ins or was damaged when water leaked Wharton Brook State Park in tee. "Everytime we spend money on know that the condition of th( itive, so competitive they decided to and multimedia promotions, Jack- Wallingford, which is expecting $1 parks, ... we take giant steps in im- parks matter, said Kinderman, th keep it going," Klotz said through the roof. The castle is the son has revived the Globetrotters, latest repair project on the state's million. proving the quality of life in Con Hammonasset supervisor. It was tied at the end of regula- now headquartered in Phoenix (is Black Rock State Park in tion and went into overtime. With long list. nothing sacred?) and increased the A Newport-style mansion at Watertown, which is slated to get seconds left, the Reds were up by a value of his investment tenfold. He $3.8 million. Work at both parks will The Hartford Courant point. "Meadow missed a shot and I Harkness Memorial State Park in even has the team periodically play- Waterford was closed for lack of likely start this year or next year. HOW TO REACH US grabbed the ball and dribbled it out. ing straight against teams such as Even with the recent largess, Con- The Hartford Courant The timekeeper tried to halt the funds and further deteriorated. It 285 Broad St., Hartford, CT 06115 Kareem's all-stars and college all- was repaired and reopened in 1998 necticut lags behind other states in (860) 241-6200; (800) 524-4242 (Outside the Hartford clock but couldn't. We won." star teams. the amount of money it spends on area) The crowd was dumbfounded, after the state spent over $3 million. All numbers are 860 area code unless otherwise noted Maybe there'll be another upset, its parks. Connecticut, in fact, is at waiting for the show that never And the stunning Heublein Tow- wwvv.hartfordcourantcom but it won't be quite like that night er atop a prominent traprock ridge the back of the pack. During fiscal NEWSPAPER DELIVERY ...... 525-5555 took place. The Reds had no cham- in Tennessee. "Meadowlark came 1997-98, the state spent proportional- Subscriptions, missed delivery or missing (Inside Connecticut) (800) 472-7377 in Simsbury was getting sorrier all' sections, vacation stops, billing questions. pagne — it would have gone sour (Out of state) (800) 524-4242 x4900 into our locker room to congratu- For same-day redelivery, please call before between wins — so they dumped or- late us, which was very nice, but I 10 a.m.