(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall permit equestrian use on multiuse trails on state park and forest lands, unless specifically prohibited by said commissioner. Prior to a decision to prohibit equine use of any multiuse trail on state park and forest lands that have historically been utilized by equestrians, said commissioner shall consult with the Equine Advisory Council established pursuant to section 23-10d.
(b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit nonequine uses by the public of the trails specified in subsection (a) of this section nor prohibit the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection from temporarily closing any multiuse trail for safety reasons or the protection of natural resources.
(c) The permitting of equestrian use on a multiuse trail by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall not be deemed an expansion of such trail.
(P.A. 09-180, S. 1; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 264.)
History: P.A. 09-180 effective June 30, 2009; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection”, effective July 1, 2011; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 amended Subsec. (a) to delete requirement that Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection preserve certain trails for equine use and add provisions re equestrian use on multiuse trails and consultation with Equine Advisory Council, amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re temporary closure of any multiuse trail for safety reasons or protection of natural resources and amended Subsec. (c) to change “preservation of a trail” to “permitting of equestrian use on a multiuse trail”, effective July 1, 2012.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 23 - Parks, Forests and Public Shade Trees
Chapter 447 - State Parks and Forests
Section 23-5. - Public reservations; supervision.
Section 23-5a. - Natural area preserves. Declaration of policy.
Section 23-5c. - Natural area preserves system.
Section 23-5d. - Approval of preserve.
Section 23-5f. - Advisory committee.
Section 23-5g. - Cooperation with federal agencies.
Section 23-5h. - Acquisition of property.
Section 23-5i. - Responsibility of other public authorities.
Section 23-6. - Maintenance of state park and forest lands adjoining other states.
Section 23-7. - Memorials in state parks and reservations.
Section 23-8a. - Conveyance of certain state land previously held as protected open space.
Section 23-9. - Acquisition of property by eminent domain.
Section 23-9a. - Acquisition of easements for maintenance of dams.
Section 23-10. - Development of recreational areas.
Section 23-10a. - Designation of state hiking trails.
Section 23-10b. - Outdoor recreation-related services.
Section 23-10c. - Designation of trails for use by horseback riders.
Section 23-10d. - Equine Advisory Council.
Section 23-10h. - Heritage parks: Legislative policy.
Section 23-10i. - Designation of heritage parks. Public hearing. Designation of additional sites.
Section 23-11. - Licenses for use of portions of parks or forests.
Section 23-12. - Transfer of control of open spaces.
Section 23-13. - Animals for public parks.
Section 23-14. - Rights-of-way in state parks and forests.
Section 23-15. - State park receipts deposited in Passport to the Parks account.
Section 23-15a. - Use of state parks. Reimbursement of municipalities.
Section 23-15c. - Revenue from food service facilities, vending machines and stands in state parks.
Section 23-15d. - Request for information re state park concessions, services and amenities.
Section 23-15e. - Rents for special events of limited duration.
Section 23-15f. - Adopt-A-Park program. Financial sponsorship.
Section 23-15g. - Per-person admission fee for state parks. Report.
Section 23-15h. - Passport to the Parks account. Established. Subaccounts. Payments from account.
Section 23-16. - Leases of camp sites.
Section 23-16a. - Leasing of camping sites at shore parks. Pilot program.
Section 23-18. - State Park Police.
Section 23-19. - State Forester.
Section 23-20. - Powers and duties of commissioner.
Section 23-21. - Purchase and sale of land by commissioner.
Section 23-22. - Acquisition of land by exchange.
Section 23-23. - Purchase and sale of seeds and seedling stock.
Section 23-24. - Establishment of boundaries.
Section 23-24a. - Survey of boundaries of state parks and forest lands.
Section 23-25. - Granting of leases for public purposes.
Section 23-26a. - “All-terrain vehicle” defined.
Section 23-26b. - Certificate to operate all-terrain vehicles on state land.
Section 23-26c. - Availability of state land for use by persons operating all-terrain vehicles.
Section 23-26d. - Regulations re safety education courses for the operation of all-terrain vehicles.
Section 23-26e. - Operation of all-terrain vehicles on state land by certain minors.
Section 23-26f. - Regulations re operation of all-terrain vehicles.
Section 23-27. - Federal grants.
Section 23-27a to 23-27k. - Registration of private land for recreational purposes.