Brainard Homestead State Park

This 25-acre park is one of the system’s undeveloped parks, with no infrastructure and lots of open space. The park is the former homestead of Selden Tyler Brainerd and was bequeathed to the state of Connecticut by his grandniece, Geraldine, upon her death in 1929. The homestead is long gone, but with some exploring you can find remnants of the original farmhouse’s foundation and other signs of its former life. The farm fields are now a good spot to throw a Frisbee or play fetch with your pup. And, located a stone’s throw from the Connecticut River, the park is a hot spot for birds—and bird watchers.