Haley Farm State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Haley Farm State Park
Canopy Rock in southern Haley Farm State Park
Haley Farm State Park Location in Connecticut
Location	Groton, Connecticut, United States
Area	267 acres (108 ha)
Elevation	43 ft (13 m)
Designation	Connecticut state park
Established	1970
Administrator	Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Website	Haley Farm State Park

Haley Farm State Park is a fun place to visit in Groton, Connecticut. It's a public park that keeps old farmland from the Colonial era safe. This means it's open for everyone to enjoy! The park is about 267 acres big. It used to be part of land given to an early governor, John Winthrop. Later, it became a dairy farm.

You can walk or ride your bike here. The park is even connected to another park, Bluff Point State Park. A special bridge over some train tracks links them. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection takes care of Haley Farm State Park.

History of Haley Farm

This land was first given to John Winthrop, Jr. in 1649. He was an important leader and is known as "Connecticut's first governor." The land was later divided into smaller pieces. The part that became Haley Farm was once called Fort Hill Farm.

From Farm to Park

In 1869, a man named Caleb Haley bought 400 acres of this land. He paid $12,000 for it. Caleb Haley was a farmer. He built many stone walls that you can still see today. He also raced horses around a spot called "Racetrack Pond."

After Caleb passed away in 1924, his son, Samuel Haley, took over the farm. Samuel kept the farm running until he died in 1947. Then, his daughter Juliet Haley inherited it. The farm produced cream and milk that was sent to nearby towns.

In 1953, the Haley family sold the farm. The new owner, A. C. White, stopped farming. He wanted to build houses on the land. In 1960, the main farmhouse burned down. Other farm buildings were taken down later.

Saving the Land

People in Groton wanted to save the land from being built on. In 1963, they started trying to buy it. The town also said no to changing the rules to allow many houses.

Finally, in July 1970, the state of Connecticut bought 198 acres of Haley Farm. It cost $300,000. The money came from the government and a local group called the Groton Open Space Association. This group worked hard to raise their share of the money. In July 1970, Haley Farm officially became a Connecticut State Park.

In 1975, a bike trail was made. Part of this trail goes right through Haley Farm State Park. This trail connects Mystic to Noank.

Park Expands

More land was added to the park later. In 2001, the "Racetrack Pond" area was bought. In 2002, another 57 acres were added. This made the park even bigger for everyone to enjoy.

Plants and Trees

Haley Farm State Park has many different kinds of plants. You can find plants that grow in wet areas, like swamps, and plants that grow on higher, drier land.

Near the water, you might see salt meadow grass and other plants that like salty air. In the swampy parts of the park, you'll find red maple and tulip trees. On the higher ground, there are cherry and hickory trees, along with many different shrubs.

Things to Do

Haley Farm State Park is a great place for outdoor activities.

• Walking and Running: There are many trails perfect for hiking or jogging.
• Biking: You can ride your bike on the park's trails. A special bike trail, about 0.8 miles long, is part of a bigger 7.5-mile bikeway. This longer trail connects Mystic to Groton.
• Connecting Parks: A pedestrian bridge connects Haley Farm State Park to Bluff Point State Park. This bridge goes over the Amtrak train tracks. It's a fun way to explore two parks in one trip!

Images for kids

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  Haley Farm homestead walls and ruins today.

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  Pedestrian bridge connecting Haley Farm and Bluff Point state parks