Lovers Leap State Park is a public recreation area on the Housatonic River in the town of New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut.[3] The state park's 127 acres (51 ha) straddle the Housatonic Gorge near the intersection of Connecticut Route 67 and Connecticut Route 202. The park offers hiking to scenic and historic locations and is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
| Lovers Leap State Park | |
|---|---|
 The Housatonic River as viewed from the leap | |
  Location in Connecticut  Lovers Leap State Park (the United States) | |
| Location | New Milford, Connecticut, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°32′42″N 73°24′08″W / 41.54500°N 73.40222°W[1] |
| Area | 127 acres (51 ha)[2] |
| Elevation | 518 ft (158 m)[1] |
| Designation | Connecticut state park |
| Established | 1971 |
| Named for | The Lovers Leap cliff overlooking the Housatonic River |
| Administrator | Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
| Website | Lovers Leap State Park |
History edit
The park's eastern 52 acres were once the estate of Catherine Judson Hurd, who bequeathed the land to the state for use a public park in 1971. After Connecticut Light and Power sold land on the west side of the gorge to the state, Lovers Leap State Park was dedicated in 2007.[4]
Features edit
The park's historic features include the 1895 Berlin Iron Bridge, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places,[3] the ruins of the Bridgeport Wood Finishing Company factory,[4] and the remains of the Hurd estate which include the vine-encrusted "yellow cat tea house."[5]
References edit
- ^ a b "Lovers Leap State Park". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "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-2. Retrieved March 20, 2014.
- ^ a b "Lovers Leap State Park". State Parks and Forests. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. July 18, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ a b Miller, Robert (June 8, 2008). "Preserving a past in ruins". The News-Times. Danbury, Conn. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
- ^ Marteka, Peter (September 3, 2010). "View from Lovers Leap State Park like a painting". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Conn. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
External links edit
- Lovers Leap State Park Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Lovers Leap State Park Map Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection