By State Rep. Kim Rose
The view of Charles Island from Silver Sands State Park in Milford. Photo by Kenneth Casper.
Overdevelopment at Silver Sands State Park continues to be an issue that many Milford residents care about, and I have heard you loud and clear. I have put in legislation to halt the funding that will continue to degrade one of the few pristine parks in the state.
I am extremely pleased that the finance, revenue and bonding committee has moved my concept forward as a bill in House Bill #5088, An Act Concerning The Cancellation Of Unissued Bond Fund Authorizations For Silver Sands State Park, and will be holding a public hearing Friday, March 2, at noon in Room 2E of the Legislative Office Building, located at 300 Capitol Ave. in Hartford.
If you will be testifying either in person or in writing, testimony can be sent to the finance, revenue and bonding committee at fintestimony@cga.ct.gov. Please send a copy to me at kim.rose@cga.ct.gov when emailing testimony.
We need to keep our testimony broad and general – it’s difficult for others who either do not live in Milford or go to Silver Sands to understand that this is an environmental issue, a pristine natural area that should remain that way. Bonding this much money is irresponsible for a project that is a luxury.
Testimony should note that we may not be opposed to bathrooms, but the rest of the project is expensive and unnecessary. Please refrain from personal attacks in your testimony.
Also, try to stay away from the personal issues such as parking and congestion. It’s quite unusual for a city to override what a state agency does, especially with their land. This was my take back from the discussions on the floor as I brought our bill forward last session.
Litter is certainly another good talking point from an environmental standpoint.
You can also sign up to automatically track the bill on the Connecticut General Assembly website.
I have a long road ahead of me to get this to the floor and passed, and the odds are against us. In the meantime, I was not going down without a fight and without you having the opportunity of having your voice heard in Hartford.
Please feel free to contact me at the Capitol at 1-800-842-8267, on my cell phone 203-701-6098, or by email at Kim.Rose@cga.ct.gov. also please like my Official Facebook Page for news and legislative updates.
I live two streets from Siver Sands State Park; therefore, it is one of my favorite places in Milford. I truly think the addition of bathrooms would be greatly appreciated by all of us who frequent this lovely natural gift to us in Milford. But environmentally speaking, I am opposed to changing this natural habitat into what I would perceive to be equivalent to an amusement park! I do not believe that was the initial intention nor should it be ours.