Silver Sands State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Silver Sands State Park |
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Tombolo to Charles Island at low tide
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 Silver Sands State Park
Location in Connecticut
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| Location | Milford, Connecticut, United States |
| Area | 297 acres (120 ha) |
| Elevation | 7 ft (2.1 m) |
| Designation | Connecticut state park |
| Established | 1960 |
| Administrator | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Website | Silver Sands State Park |
Silver Sands State Park is a fantastic public park located right on the Long Island Sound in Milford, Connecticut. This amazing state park covers about 297 acres. It features beautiful beaches, rolling sand dunes, a special restored salt marsh, and open wooded areas. It also includes the 14-acre bird sanctuary of Charles Island. At the park, you can go swimming, enjoy a picnic, explore trails, walk on boardwalks, and even go bird-watching. The park is looked after by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Contents
Park History
This area, which includes the tidal channels of Fletcher's Creek and Nettleton Creek, was once used as a local dumping ground and landfill. This happened from the 1920s until 1977. Scientists later checked the soil and found some heavy metals. This was likely due to the area being used as a dump.
The state started buying land for the park in 1955. This happened after Hurricane Diane sadly destroyed 75 homes on the site. Once all the land was bought, the park officially opened in 1960. In 1997, a plan was approved to restore the coastal wetlands at Silver Sands. The park was then updated based on plans started in 1990 by architect Alfredo De Vido. All the renovations were finished in the year 2000.
What You Can See and Do
Silver Sands State Park offers many exciting things to explore and enjoy. From walking to a mysterious island to spotting rare birds, there's something for everyone.
Charles Island and Its Secrets
When the tide is low, you can actually walk across a natural land bridge, called a tombolo, to Charles Island. This is a really cool experience! However, from May through August, visitors cannot go to the island. This is because it's a special time for nesting birds, and they need to be left alone. The wooded inside of Charles Island is a protected home for heron and egret birds. It's one of the biggest places in Connecticut where these wading birds raise their young. You can also see the old ruins of a Catholic retreat from the 1920s on the island. A popular story says that the famous pirate Captain Kidd buried his treasure somewhere on this island!
Boardwalks and Trails
The park is right next to Walnut Beach, which is owned by the city. A boardwalk connects Silver Sands State Park to Walnut Beach. There's also a boardwalk with railings that goes from the parking lot to the beach, which is about 200 feet long. This boardwalk also runs along part of the beach. The land next to the boardwalk used to be a landfill. But now, the salt water tidal marsh there is being restored to help the environment. If you look closely through the marsh, you might see parts of old house foundations. These homes were destroyed by Hurricane Diane. There's also an old dirt road that goes from east to west through the park. Some of the park trails are even part of the East Coast Greenway, a long trail system.
Amazing Birds
Many different kinds of birds can be seen at Silver Sands State Park. You might spot least and common terns feeding here. It's also a place where raptors spend the winter. These include birds like the rough-legged hawk, the beautiful snowy owl, and the short-eared owl. It's a great spot for bird-watching!
