connecticut state park preserving colonial era farmland open space town site dairy farm owned land sold developed sold acres july bike trail mystic established goes acres purchased total added park includes acres directly connected pedestrian bridge railroad tracks park reserved activities walking facilities include pit toilets history land containing larger parcel granted known better younger governor colony recognized connecticut governor land later split piece contained designated fort hill farm farm purchased passed land split farm sold acres sold price farmed land built stone walls property raced horses pond land passed son death continued operate farm death passed daughter farm produced cream milk shipped mystic farm sold family abandoned farm develop called cove white placed acre parcel land containing sale homestead burned buildings eventually demolished documented possible future reconstruction efforts purchase land prevent developed town opposed multi residential development plan land sold acre parcel total acres land returned white payments taxes july state acquired acres white total money result federal funding state funding remaining came local organization completed raising required funds early time said plans park recognizes officially connecticut state park july bike trail mystic established goes planned improvement enhance trail stone dust resulted objections concerns locals objections raised belief project increase traffic park pose hazard riding state park illegal noted staff unable effectively catch limited means deter concern motorcycle collisions merit fatal motorcycle motorcycle crash occurred september idea trail barriers rejected trail needed able accommodate serve emergency vehicles unable access trail effectively acres purchased total added park plot land purchase acres acres funds purchase pond area purchased resulting totaling acres park directly connected pedestrian bridge railroad tracks built atop street railway bridge vegetation according park mosaic wetland vegetation types algae plants found shore including salt meadow grass moss areas red maple trees include cherry shrubs history area region revealed study trees white oak site found years old upper end life species years life showed rapid growth believed result new_england hurricane cleared older trees opened canopy rings widening response chestnut growth response new england hurricane mid late 1960s shows little growth serves evidence near drought conditions new_england rare habitat great variety biological diversity small space growth composition forest changes based major storms biological result constant change continuous self adjustment allows forest thrive activities mile bike trail larger mile mystic park supports hiking activities soil bike trails listed easy difficulty america state parks website state parks illegal permitted hunting shooting allowed park close residences high school facilities include pit toilets
Haley Farm State Park