Title 23 — Title 23: Parks, Forests and Public Shade Trees

Secs. 23-1 to 23-3. Appointment and term of commission. Powers and duties; reports; director. Supervision of tree wardens. Sections 23-1 to 23-3, inclusive, are repealed. (1949 Rev., S. 3428–3430; 1951, S. 1854d; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 13; February, 1965, P.A. 614, S. 1; 19…

Sec. 23-10. Development of recreational areas. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may develop recreational areas or picnic areas for public use and may erect other structures in the state parks and forests within the limitations of any funds specifically appr…

Sec. 23-10a. Designation of state hiking trails. Those portions of the Connecticut blue blazed trails system which cross state property are hereby designated as state hiking trails. (P.A. 77-300.)

Sec. 23-10b. Outdoor recreation-related services. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may provide outdoor recreation-related services to the public at state park and forest recreation areas. Such services may include rentals of bicycles, boats, cabins and tent…

Sec. 23-10c. Designation of trails for use by horseback riders. Section 23-10c is repealed, effective July 1, 2012. (P.A. 01-150, S. 16; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 293.)

Sec. 23-10d. Equine Advisory Council. There is established an Equine Advisory Council which shall assist the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to study the issue of preservation of equine trails in the state. The council shall consist of the president of the Conne…

Sec. 23-10e. Equestrian use on multiuse trails on state park and forest lands. Nonequine use of trails. Temporary closing of multiuse trails. (a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall permit equestrian use on multiuse trails on state park and forest lands,…

Secs. 23-10f and 23-10g. Reserved for future use.

Sec. 23-10h. Heritage parks: Legislative policy. The General Assembly recognizes that the cities in the state have a rich historical and cultural heritage, that many of the cities are in need of economic revitalization and that preservation and interpretation of such heritage can…

Sec. 23-10i. Designation of heritage parks. Public hearing. Designation of additional sites. (a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, shall develop criteria and guidelines for the des…

Sec. 23-11. Licenses for use of portions of parks or forests. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may grant revocable licenses for public purposes to any person for the use of any portion of any state forest or state park if said commissioner finds that such p…

Sec. 23-12. Transfer of control of open spaces. Any town or other municipality may transfer the care and control of any open spaces owned or controlled by it to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection upon such terms and for such periods as may be mutually agreed …

Sec. 23-13. Animals for public parks. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection or the custodians of any state or municipal park may accept, either by purchase or gift, for free exhibition purposes only, any fish, crustacean, bird or animal. (1949 Rev., S. 3439; 196…

Sec. 23-14. Rights-of-way in state parks and forests. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may grant rights-of-way or other easements on or with respect to any state park or state forest, if said commissioner finds that such purposes are not in conflict with pa…

Sec. 23-14a. (Formerly Sec. 19a-192a). Payments to certified ambulance services for calls at state parks or forests. Section 23-14a is repealed. (P.A. 86-358, S. 1, 3; P.A. 87-422, S. 1, 3; P.A. 91-369, S. 35, 36.)

Sec. 23-15. State park receipts deposited in Passport to the Parks account. All receipts from the operation of the state parks shall be deposited in the Passport to the Parks account established pursuant to section 23-15h. Expenditures incurred by the Department of Energy and Env…

Sec. 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…

Sec. 23-15b. State park special event rentals paid into Passport to the Parks account. Subaccounts. Uses. Report. (a) All funds collected from rent paid by any person for the use of state park property for any special event of limited duration, including, but not limited to, wedd…

Sec. 23-15c. Revenue from food service facilities, vending machines and stands in state parks. (a) Not later than December 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, any person who has a contractual agreement with the Department of Aging and Disability Services for the operation in any st…

Sec. 23-15d. Request for information re state park concessions, services and amenities. (a) Not later than August 15, 2015, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall develop a request for information concerning the operation of concessions, provision of servic…

Sec. 23-15e. Rents for special events of limited duration. Not later than July 31, 2015, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall establish the amount of rent paid by any resident or nonresident of this state for the use of state park property for any special…

Sec. 23-15f. Adopt-A-Park program. Financial sponsorship. Not later than July 31, 2015, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall amend the Adopt-A-Park program to additionally provide for the recognition of participants who elect to financially sponsor such p…

Sec. 23-15g. Per-person admission fee for state parks. Report. Not later than January 1, 2017, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the enviro…

Sec. 23-15h. Passport to the Parks account. Established. Subaccounts. Payments from account. (a) There is established an account to be known as the Passport to the Parks account which shall be a separate, nonlapsing account within the General Fund. Moneys in such account shall be…

Sec. 23-16. Leases of camp sites. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may execute with residents and nonresidents of this state leases of camping sites and buildings on the state parks for limited periods except as provided in section 23-16a and the proceeds f…

Sec. 23-16a. Leasing of camping sites at shore parks. Pilot program. (a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall not lease camping sites at shore parks to the same camping party for more than three weeks during the camping season. The commissioner shall (1) …

Sec. 23-16b. Portable wastewater holding tanks. Use at state or private campgrounds. Authorized. Notwithstanding any provision of title 19a, any person may utilize a portable wastewater holding tank for the purpose of transporting wastewater from an internal camping unit holding …

Sec. 23-16c. Squantz Pond. Capacity limit. Factors. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall develop and post for members of the public, on or before January 31, 2024, the capacity limit of Squantz Pond State Park. Such capacity limit shall be determined util…

Sec. 23-17. Trust funds. The State Treasurer is authorized, with the approval of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, to receive and hold in trust for the state, exempt from taxation, any grant or devise of land or rights in land and any gift or bequest of mon…

Sec. 23-18. State Park Police. The Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection may, upon application of the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, appoint, during his pleasure, one or more persons employed upon the public reservations in charge of the C…

Sec. 23-19. State Forester. There shall be within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection a State Forester who shall be responsible to the commissioner for the performance of his duties and shall be accountable to the commissioner in all his official activities. The…

Sec. 23-20. Powers and duties of commissioner. (a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall administer the statutes relating to forestry and the protection of forests. The commissioner may: (1) Employ such field and office assistants as may be necessary for t…

Sec. 23-21. Purchase and sale of land by commissioner. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may buy land in the state suitable for the growth of timber, at a price not exceeding ten dollars per acre, unless a higher price is authorized by the Governor. Such lan…

Sec. 23-22. Acquisition of land by exchange. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may acquire land adjoining or in close proximity to an established state forest, by exchanging for title in fee simple to such land the right to cut and remove wood, lumber or oth…

Sec. 23-23. Purchase and sale of seeds and seedling stock. (a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may, in cooperation with federal agencies, or by his own initiative, raise or purchase, with moneys appropriated from the General Fund, planting seed or seedling…

Sec. 23-24. Establishment of boundaries. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may establish the boundaries of any state park, state forest or other property under his jurisdiction by agreement with owners of adjoining property and may, with the approval of the …

Sec. 23-24a. Survey of boundaries of state parks and forest lands. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall cause the boundary lines of all state parks and forest lands under the administration of the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to be su…

Sec. 23-25. Granting of leases for public purposes. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may, with the approval of the Governor, grant leases for public purposes to any public authority for any portion of any state forest or state park if said commissioner find…

Sec. 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. (a) The commissioner may (1) provide for the collection of fees for parking, admission, boat launching and other…

Sec. 23-26a. “All-terrain vehicle” defined. As used in sections 23-26b to 23-26g, inclusive, “all-terrain vehicle” means a motorized vehicle, not suitable for operation on a highway that (1) is not more than fifty inches in width, (2) has a dry weight of not more than six hundred…

Sec. 23-26b. Certificate to operate all-terrain vehicles on state land. (a) No person shall operate an all-terrain vehicle on state land without first obtaining a certificate from the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and unless such vehicle is registered pursua…

Sec. 23-26c. Availability of state land for use by persons operating all-terrain vehicles. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall evaluate the properties under his jurisdiction and the jurisdiction of other state agencies for their use by persons operating …

Sec. 23-26d. Regulations re safety education courses for the operation of all-terrain vehicles. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, shall, by regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions o…

Sec. 23-26e. Operation of all-terrain vehicles on state land by certain minors. No person less than twelve years of age shall operate an all-terrain vehicle on state land. A person between twelve and sixteen years of age may operate an all-terrain vehicle on state land provided s…

Sec. 23-26f. Regulations re operation of all-terrain vehicles. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 (1) establishing standards and procedures for certification of operators of all-terrain v…

Sec. 23-26g. Penalties. (a) Any person who violates section 23-26b or 23-26e or any regulations adopted pursuant to section 23-26f shall have committed an infraction. For a second and each subsequent violation of any of said laws or regulations, the Commissioner of Energy and Env…

Sec. 23-27. Federal grants. The commissioner is authorized (a) to apply for and receive grants or any other benefits from the United States or any agency or instrumentality thereof for the purpose of improving and developing any state park; (b) to do and to authorize to be done e…

Secs. 23-27a to 23-27k. Registration of private land for recreational purposes. Sections 23-27a to 23-27k, inclusive, are repealed. (1967, P.A. 623, S. 1–12; 1969, P.A. 786, S. 1–3; 1971, P.A. 249, S. 7; 872, S. 191–193.)

Sec. 23-4. Regulations for preservation and protection. Penalties. Alcoholic beverages in state parks and forests. Taking of mushrooms. Liability. (a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 for…

Sec. 23-4a. Lands of public use and benefit. Conservation and preservation restrictions on department lands. The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may designate lands owned by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as lands of public use and benef…