CORA partnered with News 12 Connecticut to feature one of the many outdoor recreation activities available in the winter in Connecticut. In a “Road Trip-Close to Home” segment, board members Christine D’Andrea, Joseph Dickerson, and Mick Ferraro took to snow-packed trails in Simsbury for some winter fat biking!
The Mental Health Benefits Of Seeking The Great Outdoors
Last year at this time, the Zimmerman family would seek out the solace of Wadsworth Falls State Park only a few times, their busy lives often getting in the way of a trip into the natural world.
For the past few months, the Middletown and Middlefield park has been a daily respite for them – and many others - from the pandemic that has gripped the state and halted most indoor and outdoor activities.
“It’s really been a godsend for our family,” Steve Zimmerman said during a recent outing with his family of four on a sunny spring day. “It’s good not only to get out in the woods, but also be with family and get away from the four walls we feel surrounded by.”
The Zimmermans are not alone. A report from the Connecticut Trail Census monitored trail use at 13 multi-use trails in March and compared it with March 2019. A total of 172,099 uses were recorded across the sites – a 77 percent increase. This was not just a short term trend - trail use numbers in April, May and June have all been up over 50 percent on many popular trails.
The Connecticut Outdoor Recreation Alliance has been hard at work over the past few months helping to get the outdoor recreation economy back up and running this summer.
The all-volunteer group promotes outdoor recreation as an alternative to mass entertainment events. The goal of the group is to act as an advocate for the outdoor recreation economy through marketing, partnerships with businesses, education and providing access to the outdoors. CORA has been working closely with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as the state carefully begins to reopen.
A key message for the group has been stressing the importance of the outdoors and its effects with mental health. The state parks, Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s Blue-blazed trails system as well as municipal hiking areas and land trust preserves have remained open while neighboring states have closed their recreational paths and parks.
The state’s 3,000 miles of trails allow residents to get fresh air, exercise and stress relief, according to Eric Hammerling, Executive Director of CFPA and a member of the CORA advisory board.
“This is an extraordinary time, with public buildings closing, large events cancelled and valid concerns about the spread of COVID-19,” he said. “Recreational trails like the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails offer an activity that can still meet requirements for ‘social distancing,’ are free to all residents, and are conveniently located statewide.”
Mental health expert Andrew Meisler, said there are “enormous physical and mental health benefits from outdoor recreation. A clinical psychologist and avid trail runner said public spaces are important for everyone’s well-being.
“In the current climate, people will need it now more than ever,” he said.
Dr. Dennis Johnston, a clinical neuropsychologist and avid hiker, encouraged people to get out of the house and into nature.
"It is well known that exercise is good for mental and physical health,” he said. “but a recent study showed that exercising outdoors reduced anxiety more than exercising indoors. So, if people are feeling anxious and caged up indoors, then it is good to know that there are free, accessible options for getting outside and reducing stress."
Here in Connecticut, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is partnering with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to highlight the important role the outdoors can play in boosting both physical and mental health. DEEP will be live-streaming a series of mindfulness exercises held in Connecticut State Parks. The first event will feature Kettletown State Park in Southbury and will go live on Monday August 10th at 10am - check DEEP’s Facebook page to watch the livestream.
Do you know a local business or non-profit that could benefit from CORA? Please spread the word!
Your Business or Nonprofit Could Benefit from a Marketing Opportunity Offered by Connecticut State Parks
If you tried to visit your favorite state park on a sunny day this spring, you may have been disappointed to find a closed sign blocking the entrance. State parks have reduced parking in order to accommodate social distancing guidelines. Meanwhile demand for outdoor recreation has skyrocketed as people look outside for healthy recreation and entertainment activities. This combination of reduced parking and increased demand has caused many parks to close on the weekends, often early in the day. This leaves many Connecticut residents trying to find an open trailhead or parking area. For many this can be disappointing, especially if they drove a substantial distance to reach a park only to find it closed upon arrival.
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) recently launched a website - What's Open Outdoors, which tracks park closures in real time. They have also been updating park closures on their Twitter feed - @CTStateParks. DEEP would like to provide alternative recreation options for people turned away by park closures. As a result they have offered to promote local businesses or other parks that have capacity to get people outdoors even when state parks are full.
In order for your business or park to act as an overflow destination the following conditions should apply.
Your business or non-profit provides an outdoor recreation service (tour, fishing charter, hike, rental, land trust, etc.)
You can accept walk-in traffic during times that state parks are closed (weekends and ideal weather days).
You are located near a state park that frequently closes due to full capacity.
If these conditions apply to you, please sign up to be included in this program. (If you are not yet a member of the Connecticut Outdoor Recreation Alliance (CORA), please join CORA first - its free!)
Do you know a local business that could benefit from increased promotion? If so, please pass this message on. Let's work together to support local outdoor businesses affected by COVID-19!
Sign Up to be Included in CT State Parks Promotion Opportunity