John A. Minetto State Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John A. Minetto State Park
John A. Minetto State Park Location in Connecticut
Location	Goshen and Torrington, Connecticut, United States
Area	715 acres (289 ha)
Elevation	1,296 feet (395 m)
Designation	Connecticut state park
Established	1965
Administrator	Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Website	John A. Minetto State Park

John A. Minetto State Park is a cool outdoor spot in Connecticut. It covers about 715 acres, which is like 715 football fields! You can find it in the towns of Goshen and Torrington. This park is a great place for families and friends to enjoy nature. You can have picnics, go fishing, or even try cross-country skiing in winter! The park is looked after by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Park History: From Flood Control to Fun

This park has an interesting past. It started as part of a big project to control floods. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a group that builds things for the country, built the Hall Meadow Brook Dam here. This dam helps prevent too much water from flooding the area.

After the dam was finished in 1962, the land was given to the state of Connecticut to manage. The park first opened in 1965 and was called Hall Meadow State Park.

Honoring a Local Leader

In 1972, the park was renamed to honor John A. Minetto. He was a very important person in the area. John A. Minetto was a State Senator from Torrington. A State Senator is a person elected by people to represent them in the state government. They help make laws and decisions for the state. Renaming the park was a way to remember his contributions to the community.