Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 447 - State Parks and Forests
Section 23-15a. - Use of state parks. Reimbursement of municipalities.

The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall, within available appropriations, reimburse municipalities for necessary costs incurred when the use of a state park in those municipalities is so great as to impede traffic, limit the movement of emergency vehicles or create a risk of a breach of peace or a threat to public safety.

(P.A. 00-192, S. 31, 102; P.A. 11-80, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 00-192 effective July 1, 2000; 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.

Structure Connecticut General Statutes

Connecticut General Statutes

Title 23 - Parks, Forests and Public Shade Trees

Chapter 447 - State Parks and Forests

Section 23-1 to 23-3. - Appointment and term of commission. Powers and duties; reports; director. Supervision of tree wardens.

Section 23-4. - Regulations for preservation and protection. Penalties. Alcoholic beverages in state parks and forests. Taking of mushrooms. Liability.

Section 23-4a. - Lands of public use and benefit. Conservation and preservation restrictions on department lands.

Section 23-4b. - (Note: This section is effective July 1, 2022.) Prohibition of use of cannabis on state lands or waters managed by department. Penalty.

Section 23-4c. - Hazardous tree mitigation policy. Requirements. Tree replanting demonstration project. Report.

Section 23-5. - Public reservations; supervision.

Section 23-5a. - Natural area preserves. Declaration of policy.

Section 23-5b. - Definitions.

Section 23-5c. - Natural area preserves system.

Section 23-5d. - Approval of preserve.

Section 23-5e. - Alienation.

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 23-8. - Open spaces for recreation. State goal for acquisition of open space. State-owned lands valuable for conservation purposes. Public use and benefit land registry. Content.

Section 23-8a. - Conveyance of certain state land previously held as protected open space.

Section 23-8b. - Purchase of certain water company land in Fairfield County. Requirements for preservation. Jurisdiction by certain officers and patrolmen.

Section 23-9. - Acquisition of property by eminent domain.

Section 23-9a. - Acquisition of easements for maintenance of dams.

Section 23-9b. - West Rock Ridge conservation area and supplement. Notice requirements re land use changes or transfers.

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 23-10e. - Equestrian use on multiuse trails on state park and forest lands. Nonequine use of trails. Temporary closing of multiuse trails.

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 23-14a. (Formerly Sec. 19a-192a). - Payments to certified ambulance services for calls at state parks or 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 23-15b. - State park special event rentals paid into Passport to the Parks account. Subaccounts. Uses. Report.

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 23-16b. - Portable wastewater holding tanks. Use at state or private campgrounds. Authorized.

Section 23-17. - Trust funds.

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 23-26. - Revenue from state parks and facilities. Motor vehicle parking passes. Lifetime passes for residents sixty-five years of age or older or disabled veterans.

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 23-26g. - Penalties.

Section 23-27. - Federal grants.

Section 23-27a to 23-27k. - Registration of private land for recreational purposes.