Wadsworth Falls State Park
| Wadsworth Falls State Park | |
| Connecticut State Park | |
 Wadsworth Falls | |
| Named for: Clarence C. Wadsworth | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Connecticut |
| County | Middlesex |
| Towns | Middlefield, Middletown |
| Elevation | 174 ft (53 m) [1] |
| Coordinates | 41°31′39″N 72°41′25″W / 41.52750°N 72.69028°WCoordinates: 41°31′39″N 72°41′25″W / 41.52750°N 72.69028°W [1] |
| Area | 285 acres (115 ha) [2] |
| Established | 1942 |
| Management | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
  Location in Connecticut | |
| Website: Wadsworth Falls State Park | |
Wadsworth Falls State Park, or simply Wadsworth Falls, is a public recreation and preserved natural area located on the Coginchaug River in the towns of Middletown and Middlefield, Connecticut. The state park's 285 acres (115 ha) offer trails for hiking and mountain biking, pond and stream fishing, swimming, and picnicking facilities. It is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.[3]
History
The falls are named after noted academic and linguist Clarence C. Wadsworth, a colonel in the New York National Guard who owned the property where the park now exists. After settling in Middletown, Connecticut, he worked for 45 years to preserve Wadsworth Falls In his will he established the Rockfall Corporation, which is tasked with protecting the land, plants, and animals on his estate. In 1942, 267 acres (108 ha) were given to the State of Connecticut to become Wadsworth Falls State Park.[4]
Features
- The falls
Wadsworth Falls is 30 feet (9.1 m) high, with 52 feet (16 m) of water trickling over sandstone along the trail. The falls may be reached by car, with parking on Cherry Hill Road, or by hiking approximately 1.25 miles (2.01 km) from the main entrance on Route 157.
- The mansion
The Long Hill Estate mansion once belonging to Clarence C. Wadsworth is adjacent to the park, near 41°32′8″N 72°40′34″W / 41.53556°N 72.67611°W. The restored mansion is owned by city of Middletown and is used as a reception hall. It may be reached from the park grounds by way of the purple-blazed hiking trail and has walking trails around its grounds.[5]
Activities and amenities
The park features a swimming pond with a lifeguard-supervised sandy beach, that is paved with soil cement to prevent leakage and water pumped from water wells located near the Coginchaug River. There are picnicking facilities, a stocked river for fishing, and a network of hiking trails.[3] A small brown bridge leads to the falls via the hiking trails.
References
- 1 2 "Wadsworth Falls State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
- ↑ "Appendix A: List of State Parks and Forests" (PDF). State Parks and Forests: Funding. Staff Findings and Recommendations. Connecticut General Assembly. January 23, 2014. p. A-4. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- 1 2 "Wadsworth Falls State Park". State Parks and Forests. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. July 18, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
- ↑ "History". Wadsworth Mansion. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
- ↑ "Parklands". Wadsworth Mansion. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
External links
- Wadsworth Falls State Park Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Wadsworth Falls State Park Map Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection