Sleeping Giant State Park

Park Master Planning:

Park Entrance Restoration
Public Informational Meeting
December 11, 2019
Hamden, CT
 Introduction

• May, 2018; Destruction of Sleeping

Giant State Park
• Loss of popular park functions

• Elimination of prime forest cover

• Park closure (re-opened June 2019)
• DEEP park master plan solicitation,
Photo taken by Hailey Wilson Fuss & O’Neill awarded commission

Process Public
Public Informational
Gather Info Outreach Meeting Final Master
and mapping stakeholders Plan

Analyze structures
and waste
disposal options Master plan / phasing
Opportunities &
Constraints Analysis
Alternatives Analysis
Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration
 Context

Previous Picnic Area

Former Picnic Area

Summit /
Castle

Mill River

Trail Heads

Approx. Tornado
Damage Area
Historic Picnic
Pavilion Trails
Trail Heads

Operations Parking

Current Picnic Area

Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration

 Conditions / Impacts

Destructive Impacts:
• Elimination of Forest Habitat
• Elimination of Picnic Areas
• Elimination of Shade
• Land Exposed To Erosion
• Increased Stormwater Runoff
• Destabilized Hillsides

Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration

 User Survey and Stakeholder Workshop Outcomes

REFORESTATION MORE PARKING

NEW MAINTENANCE / STORAGE
BUILDING

RESTORE PICNICKING HISTORIC INTEGRITY

CONSOLIDATION OF PARKING
CENTRALIZED TRAIL HEADS
HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY
NATURAL LANDSCAPE
OPEN LAWN FLEX SPACE
REPLACE SHADE
WAYFINDING
PUBLIC RESTROOMS
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
SUSTAINABILITY

LONG-TERM
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

VISITORS CENTER
IMPROVED AMENITIES
MITIGATION
Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration
 Givens

• Re-forestation will take generations

• Park functions must be successful in the
interim.
• Maintenance required but should be
minimized
• Disaster provides new opportunities

Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration

 Program for Functions/Activities

• Replacement of picnic function, shade

required
• Stabilize site, manage stormwater
• Begin prioritized re-forestation efforts
• Re-establish trail heads
• Replace public restrooms
• New Visitor Center
• Current parking lots inconvenient- relocated to
picnic areas
• Expanded overflow parking

Sleeping
Sleeping Giant
Giant State
State Park: Park:
Park Park
Entrance Entrance
Restoration Restoration
 Stakeholder Workshop Restoration & Use Diagram #1

REFORESTATION
NEW MAINTENANCE / STORAGE
BUILDING
MORE PARKING
RESTORE PICNICKING
HISTORIC INTEGRITY
CONSOLIDATION OF PARKING
CENTRALIZED TRAIL HEADS
NATURAL LANDSCAPE
IMPROVED AMENITIES

HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY
OPEN LAWN FLEX SPACE
REPLACE SHADE
PUBLIC RESTROOMS
WAYFINDING
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
SUSTAINABILITY
GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
VISITORS CENTER

Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration

 Stakeholder Workshop Restoration & Use Diagram #2

• Picnic
• Parking
• Manicured flex space
• Visitor center location
• Trail head consolidation
• Proximity to parking
• Proximity to other
functions
• Stormwater
management

Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration

 Preferred Approach

Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration

 Generations Of Mitigation: A Phased Approach

Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration

 Suggested Implementation Sequence Short Term

1. Replace Picnic Functions

• Locate in shaded areas
• Expand Shade (vegetative /
structural)
• Provide proximate parking

2. Stabilize ground plain

• Manicured lawn establishment
• Wildflower cover and
maintenance

Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration

 Suggested Implementation Sequence Short Term
Manage Stormwater
• Repair / eliminate erosion
• Promote infiltration
Re-establish trail heads
• Wayfinding signage
• Temp trail head improvements
Locate temporary public restrooms.
Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration
Replace Picnic Functions
• Locate in shaded areas
• Expand Shade (vegetative /
structural)
• Provide proximate parking
Stabilize ground plain
• Manicured lawn establishment
• Wildflower cover and
maintenance
 Suggested Implementation Sequence: Short – Mid Term
• Commence reforestation efforts
• Develop landscape pallet
• Tree planting programs
• Donations / grants
• Expand picnic shade areas
• Develop sustainable stormwater
management plan
• Capture hillside runoff
• Surface treat with natural
mechanisms
• Promote as educational park
feature

Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration

 Suggested Implementation Sequence: Short – Mid Term
• Visitor Center
• Timing is finance dependent
• Consolidate trail head
• Implement public rest rooms.
• Modify / consolidate parking and
circulation near center
Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration
• Commence reforestation efforts
• Develop landscape pallet
• Tree planting programs
• Donations / grants
• Expand picnic shade areas
• Develop sustainable stormwater
management plan
• Capture hillside runoff
• Surface treat with natural
mechanisms
• Promote as educational park feature
 Suggested Implementation Sequence: Mid - Long Term
• Continue reforestation efforts
• Tree planting programs
• Donations / grants
• Expand picnic shade areas
• Continue implementation of
stormwater management plan
• Develop / expand pollinator
garden area to assist with
wildflower ground plain
• Educational opportunities

Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration

 Suggested Implementation Sequence: Long Term

• Continue reforestation efforts

• Tree planting programs
• Donations / grants
• Complete stormwater management
plan
• Bio-filtration along Mt. Carmel

Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration

 Suggested Implementation Sequence: Long Term
• Relocate / consolidate primary • Continue reforestation efforts
parking fields • Tree planting programs
• Convenient to picnic • Donations / grants
functions
• Complete stormwater management
• Buffered from street
• Overflow parking on previous plan
lot (grass turf) • Bio-filtration along Mt. Carmel

Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration

 Public Comment

STATE YOUR NAME OR EMAIL COMMENTS:

Catergories: Comments can be shared via email:

• Park Functions/ Amenities DEEP.stateparks@ct.gov

• Vegetation/ Landscape Restoration
**Public Comment will CLOSE on December 20, 2019**
• Educational Elements

• Sustainability

Sleeping Giant State Park: Park Entrance Restoration