The expansion creates additional public recreational opportunities.
TOLLAND – The state Department of Conservation and Recreation has added another 585 acres to its holdings at Tolland State Forest, expanding the park to more than 5,800 acres.
The acquisition, for $1.2 million, represents more than half of the Girl Scouts of Connecticut’s Timber Trails Camp and adds to the 843 acres of adjoining forest and other conservation land DCR acquired earlier this year for the park.
Both acquisitions add additional forest and wildlife habitat preservation along with fishing, canoeing and kayaking opportunities for the public. DCR now manages more than 75,000 acres of open space throughout the state.
State Energy and Environment Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr. said Thursday the purchase “serves to protect important environmental assets for the state, especially Western Massachusetts.
“This will continue to provide public access to this area,” said Sullivan. Although there are no plans for “high impact recreational uses”, Sullivan said DCR will “maintain what is currently offered at the forest.”
Sullivan said the purchase of both Tolland parcels this year is part of Gov. Deval L. Patrick’s commitment to earmark $50 million a year for preservation and conservation. “An important quality of life is nature,” the secretary said.
“Our effort towards conservation and preservation is vitally important and because the latest is in Western Massachusetts, it is personally rewarding to me,” Sullivan, a former mayor of Westfield, said.
The 45,000-member Nutmeg State scout group will continue to enjoy its former property for hiking and other activities because of its designation as conservation land.
The 843 acres in the Tolland community that DCR acquired earlier this year for $3 million includes 8,800 feet of frontage on the Farmington River and Twining Lake. It represents 782 acres purchased and 61 acres, already with a conservation restriction, free.
The scout organization will use its proceeds to further enhance its Timber Trails Camp as well as other programs and projects, Chief Operating Officer Margaret Hansen-Kaplan said this week.
She explained that the organization sold 585 of its 1,100 acre camp and the transaction allows Massachusetts to continue its “conservation footprint in and around Tolland State Forest. “This piece of property was not used in our camp operation and because it becomes public property, our scouts will be able to continue to hike it.
“That fact made it a great benefit to both Massachusetts and our organization,” said Hansen-Kaplan.
Timber Trails Camp is used year-round by the Connecticut Girl Scouts for a variety of activities and programs.
Hansen-Kaplan said during summer months it serves as a summer residential camp and through the year it is used for camporees and one-day scouting events.
The Girls Scouts have owned Timber Trails Camp for more than 50 years, she said.
DCR is currently in the process of creating a Landscape Designation plan for state conservation areas and the draft proposal lists Tolland State Forest as a forest reserve, leaving it undeveloped.