Hammonasset Beach State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hammonasset Beach State Park |
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 Hammonasset Beach State Park
Location in Connecticut
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| Location | Madison, Connecticut, United States |
| Area | 936 acres (379 ha) |
| Elevation | 10 ft (3.0 m) |
| Designation | Connecticut state park |
| Established | 1919 |
| Administrator | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Website | Hammonasset Beach State Park |
Hammonasset Beach State Park is a super popular place to visit in Madison, Connecticut. It has two miles of beautiful beach along Long Island Sound. This park is the biggest shoreline park in Connecticut. It's also one of the most visited spots in the state, with about one million people coming each year! Here, you can enjoy beach fun, camp out, and learn about nature. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection manages this amazing park.
Park History
Hammonasset Beach State Park started in 1919. That year, the state bought 499 acres of land. Right away, lots of people loved it! In its first year (1920), over 75,000 visitors came. By 1924, nearly half a million people visited each year. Today, it's still super popular. About one million people visit Hammonasset every year.
During World War II, the park closed. It was used by the United States Army as a training area. Later, in 1955, a stone wall called a breakwater was built at Meigs Point. This helps protect the shoreline.
Meigs Point Nature Center
The Meigs Point Nature Center is a cool place to learn about nature. A brand new center opened in 2016. It replaced the old one that had been there for over 40 years. The new building has a big exhibit area, about 4,000 square feet!
You can explore hands-on exhibits and see an observation deck. The center has a touch tank where you can feel sea creatures. You can also see live turtles, snakes, amphibians, crabs, and fish. It's a great spot to discover local wildlife!
Things to Do
Hammonasset Beach State Park offers many fun activities. You can ride your bike on trails or go boating. Fishing is popular here, and there are also hiking paths. It's a perfect place for a picnic with friends and family. Of course, swimming in the ocean is a favorite activity!
The park also has a large campground. There are 550 camping spots available. You can spend a night or more enjoying the outdoors.
