Group Advocates for State Forests [Litchfield County Times]

Litchfield County Times

BARKHAMSTED — With much of the land conserved in the 1920s, it’s easy to take for granted the ample fishing, canoeing, camping, hiking and recreational opportunities found in Peoples and American Legion state forests.

A new advocacy group, however, is working to ensure that the state and users take full advantage of these natural resources and do everything possible to leave them pristine.

On Friday night, more than 50 people gathered in a pavilion at Peoples State Forest for the first official membership meeting of the Friends of American Legion and Peoples State Forest.

American Legion and Peoples state forests, which flank the Farmington River, are popular spots for fishing, canoeing, camping, hiking and picnicking. In hopes of spreading the word about the nonprofit, the organization invited many special guests Friday night, including local legislators and Rob Klee, commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

“Our goal is to maintain sustainable forests for a variety of uses,” Klee said of DEEP’s mission for some 170,000 acres of forest throughout the state.

He said groups such as FALPS, the 24th such organization in the state, enhance that effort by raising the profile of the state forests, hosting educational programs, taking action such as fighting invasive species and raising funds for enhancements.

“It’s those added features that friends groups bring to the table,” Klee said.

First Selectman Don Stein, who is also vice president of the group, said he appreciated the cooperation of the agency and the turnout.

“I’m really thankful to see as many people here that have turned out,” Stein said.

Also speaking briefly Friday night were local legislators. State Sen. Kevin Witkos, R-8, talked about choices and said the state was the first in the country to use tax dollars to buy a park (Bushnell Park). He said the state forests are great treasures.

“We have to live in the moment and embrace what we have here,” Witkos said.

State Rep. Bill Simanski, R-62, said being originally from New York City, he really appreciated the area’s natural beauty as well as those who advocated for it.

“I applaud these efforts to preserve and protect this,” he said.

“It’s people like you that make the parks work,” added state Rep. Jay Case, R-63.

While he doesn’t cover Barkhamsted, Case is a member of the state legislature’s environment committee and said he continues to advocate for more state presences in the Northwest Corner.

“Let’s keep these parks viable in the Northwest Corner,” Case said.

Also present Friday was Diana McMasters, board member of the friends of Connecticut State Parks.

“This type of volunteerism in our state parks has proved to be invaluable,” she said.

On Friday, there was also some talk about the late Walt Landgraf, a seasonal DEEP employee, historian, teacher and forest advocate, who talked of starting such a group. His son Erik maintains trails in the forest for the Connecticut Forest and Park Association.

“I think it’s a great organization,” Landgraf said of FALPS. “(Dad) always loved the forest and loved to see it preserved.”

FALPS held its first organizational meeting in May, said FALPS president Ralph Scarpino. The idea that brought everyone to the table is that the two state forests, which flank either side of the Farmington River, are special assets that embody culture, history and recreation. The group was not started as an alarm that anything was terribly wrong but rather to help enhance opportunities, educate the public and ensure that good decisions are made at every level.

“What we really want to be is an advocate of the forest,” Scarpino said. “There’s just more opportunities here.”

The board has already held educational sessions and outings and other specific ideas include filling empty map boxes, sponsoring a geocaching event, co-sponsoring a family ramble, reaching out to other groups and encouraging winter activities.

And now organizers hope people will get involved and joining at $15 per individual, $25 per family.

“We’re very hopeful that this friends group will really take off,” Stein said.

“I think they will be an excellent advocate for the place,” added Dick Miska, DEEP supervisor of both American Legion and Peoples state forests.