Seaside State Park Planning Project
April 22, 2023: DEEP shares update on Seaside and Contact Survey for Interested Stakeholders
DEEP has been working over the past months with the CT Department of Administrative Services (DAS) who will be managing the development project at Seaside State Park. In February, DEEP announced $7.1 million in Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to implement the “passive park” design for Seaside. The Passive Park concept was one of four options identified through a Comprehensive Planning Process in which DEEP engaged in with local leaders, community members, and stakeholders. The passive park concept includes the removal of the deteriorated buildings; the implementation of restrooms, picnic areas, and walking trails; improvements to the shoreline area and parking area; and other elements. The project will also include historic interpretive elements regarding past uses of the site.
DAS will be starting the procurement process to hire a professional design firm that will lead the formal design process for the passive park concept for Seaside State Park. In the meantime, DEEP is finalizing plans for meeting with interested stakeholders that will help inform the historic interpretation that will be incorporated into the ultimate passive park design. We anticipate kicking off this effort in the fall, and in anticipation of that, we encourage interested stakeholder groups or individuals to fill out the brief contact survey at the link below to help us communicate progress as we move forward.
Contact Survey: https://forms.office.com/g/ypasK4PdVy
2023 – Funding/Path Forward
February 1, 2023
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced today funding for improvements at Seaside State Park in Waterford. See details in the February 1, 2023 Press Release.
2019 – Conclusion of RFP
July 2, 2019
The Seaside State Park RFP process concluded with no award. DEEP and officials from the Department of Economic and Community Development and the Department of Administrative Services met with local officials, developers, and others to determine next steps. The park is open as a place for passive recreation activities including walking, fishing and birdwatching. The buildings on the property remain closed to the public.
2018 – Request for Proposals
January, 2018
In accordance with the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act (CEPA), the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection completed a Record of Decision for Seaside State Park. On January 9, 2018, DEEP submitted the Record of Decision to the Office of Policy and Management. The document can be found in the following links:
- Decision, the Statement of Environmental Impact, and the Summary of Consultation with Agencies and other Persons, as well as Attachments A and B
- Attachments C through F
- OPM Signoff of Record of Decision for Seaside State Park
March, 2018
The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) uses BizNet as a central database and the official online informational tool for companies looking to do business with the State of Connecticut executive branch agencies. The Seaside RFP and other documents are linked to Biznet’s State Contracting Portal, as well. (Use "Search Solicitations" with Keyword "Seaside")
April, 2018
- Answers to Selected Questions received for Seaside 2018 RFP (updated May 17, 2018)
June, 2018
- Answers to Selected Questions received for Seaside 2018 RFP (updated June 20, 2018)
- 1932-33 Seaside Plans - Cass Gilbert
- Superintendents House - 1933
- Ground Floor Plan - Main Hospital Building
- First Floor Plan - Main Hospital Building
- Second Floor Plan - Main Hospital Building
- Third Floor and Roof Plans - Main Hospital Building
- Basement Plan and Foundation Plan - Main Hospital Building
- First and Second Floor Plans - Duplex Residence
- Basement Plan - Duplex Residence
- Attic and Roof Plans - Duplex Residence
- Basement Plan and First Floor Plan - Nurses Building
July, 2018
- RFP Amendment - July 26, 2018
- Answers to Selected Questions received for Seaside 2018 RFP (updated July 26, 2018)
2017 – Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE)
June 2017
An Environmental Impact Evaluation (EIE) was prepared pursuant to the Connecticut Environmental Policy Act for Seaside State Park in Waterford, CT. A public hearing on the EIE was held on July 31, 2017, at the Waterford Town Hall Auditorium.
- EIE
- EIE - Appendix A
- EIE - Appendix B
- EIE - Appendix C
- EIE - Appendix D
- EIE - Appendix E
- EIE - Appendix F
- EIE - Appendix G
- EIE - Appendix H
- EIE Errata (July 11, 2017)
If you have questions about the EIE, the public hearing, or similar matters, please contact Michael Lambert at (860) 424-3030.
2016 – Public Hearings
May 2016
Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and Administrative Services (DAS), Division of Construction Services, hosted a final public meeting on Wednesday May 25, at 6:00 p.m., in the Waterford Town Hall Auditorium, 15 Rope Ferry Road, Waterford.
The state agencies, along with Sasaki Associates, Inc., and the master planning firm of Oak Park Architects, LLC, presented the Master Plan, based upon the recommendations and interests expressed by the public throughout the master planning process, which began in January, 2015. Since that time, feedback has been obtained through public meetings, surveys, and a dedicated website.
An intensive analysis of the National Register listed buildings to determine the market for adaptive re-use of the historic buildings was conducted by PKF Consulting, USA. PKF Consulting conducted a feasibility study to determine whether market demand was sufficient for a public/private partnership to restore the buildings at Seaside as a state park lodge. Their analysis indicates that a state park lodge of approximately 100 rooms and associated amenities such as a spa, meeting space, and restaurant would be attractive to the hospitality development community, based upon anticipated growth and demand for lodging in the greater Waterford area.
The next steps in the process envisioned by DEEP include: a detailed review of the PKF report; an environmental analysis of the site as part of a more detailed planning process; and the potential for an RFP to solicit proposals from private parties for the build out and operation of a state park lodge. There will be opportunities at various points in the process for further public comment and input.
A series of meetings were scheduled to provide information about the project and for the public to provide feedback on their ideas for future use of the Seaside lands for park activities and potential adaptive re-use ideas for the buildings, consisting of the Superintendent’s House, the Nurses Quarters, the Duplex and the Sanatorium building.
On Wednesday evening, March 25 at 6:30 pm at the Waterford Town Hall, state officials and their design team held an open house on the Seaside State Park Master Plan. The project team gave a short presentation on site, building and market analysis conducted to-date; and a report-back on input received to-date from stakeholders and the general public. Then, open conversation designed to facilitate one-on-one conversation between the community, State officials, and the design team occurred.
The Seaside State Park Master Plan Presentation Open House 2 explained the results of the first survey conducted to provide public input into the planning process. The presentation included three options based on that public input:
- Destination Park
- An Ecological Park
- A Passive Park
Date |
Time |
Location |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Wednesday, May 25 |
6:00 p.m. | Waterford Town Hall - Auditorium 15 Rope Ferry Road Waterford |
| 2015 Wednesday, May 25 |
6:30 p.m. | Waterford Town Hall - Auditorium 15 Rope Ferry Road Waterford |
| 2015 Wednesday, Feb 4 |
6:30 p.m. | Waterford Town Hall - Auditorium 15 Rope Ferry Road Waterford |
| 2014 Monday, Dec 15 |
7:00 p.m. | Waterford Town Hall - Auditorium 15 Rope Ferry Road Waterford |
- PKF Consulting Seaside State Park Redevelopment Feasibility Study (May 11, 2016)
- Seaside State Park Master Plan Presentation Open House 2 (March 25, 2015)
- Seaside Survey
- Seaside State Park Master Plan Presentation Open House 1 (February 4, 2015)
- Presentation from December 15, 2014 Public Information Meeting
Asbestos Inspection Reports:
- Duplex Garage
- Duplex Residence
- Main Hospital Building
- Maintenance Building Nurses
- Residence Employees Building 1
- Pumphouse
- Superintendent Residence
June, 2016
- Preferred Master Plan for Seaside (May 25, 2016)
- PKF Consulting Seaside State Park Redevelopment Feasibility Study
August, 2016
As part of Seaside State Park's Environmental Impact Evaluation, the scoping process, which encourages public review and comment, held a public scoping meeting on August 24, 2016.
