The Sleeping Giant Park Association has a long history of advocating for the Giant – after all, it was the impending destruction of the Mt. Carmel ridges that brought together SGPA’s founders and their efforts to conserve this iconic landmark. As the primary voice for the Sleeping Giant, SGPA’s Board of Directors carefully considers legislation, policy, or other activities that may impact the park, and when appropriate, takes action in support or opposition. In recent years, SGPA advocated for the creation of the Passport to the Parks program, understanding that this program would bring a stable source of funding to the State Park system, and in turn the Giant. Prior to that, proposals for communications towers, gas lines, logging, and an effort to close the park have all been defeated thanks to the hard work of SGPA, its volunteers, and its members.
As the 2023 legislative session nears its end, negotiations are taking place between the Governor and leaders in the CT General Assembly to determine what will be in the next 2-year budget for Connecticut. The Sleeping Giant Park Association, in addition to our friend at Connecticut Forest and Park Association, Friends of Connecticut State Parks, and many other park- and conservation-related organizations, are calling on the Governor to support critical increases proposed in the Legislature’s version of the budget, namely:
- 15 new Park Maintainers and 1 district park supervisor supported by the Passport to the Parks;
- Increased grants to municipalities and nonprofits to improve and extend recreational trails; and
- Increased investment in repairs and accessibility improvements to State Park facilities.
These budgetary increases would bring quantifiable, positive change to the entire State Park system, including Sleeping Giant State Park. Below, you can find a copy of the letter of support submitted on behalf of SGPA and its membership, outlining the reasons SGPA support the proposed budget, and the impact it will have on our beloved Sleeping Giant.
We encourage you to stay informed on this issue by subscribing to the newsletter of the Connecticut Forest and Park Association (CFPA), and by reading these recent articles posted to their website (Article 1, Article 2). We also encourage you to write letters of support to the Governor in support of parks, forest, and trails prior to May 19th. CFPA has a template letter that you can use, HERE.
Letter to Governor Lamont, on behalf of the Board of Directors and Members of the Sleeping Giant Park Association
SGPA_Letter_Park_Funding_2023-05-10