Lovers Leap State Park

Lovers Leap State Park is a public recreation area on the Housatonic River in the town of New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut. The state park's 160 acres (65 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.[2]

Lovers Leap State Park
Lake
The Housatonic River as viewed from the leap
Lovers Leap State Park is located in Connecticut
Lovers Leap State Park
Lovers Leap State Park
Lovers Leap State Park is located in the United States
Lovers Leap State Park
Lovers Leap State Park
LocationNew Milford, Connecticut, United States
Coordinates41°32′25″N 73°24′18″W / 41.54028°N 73.40500°W / 41.54028; -73.40500[1]
Area160 acres (65 ha)
Elevation194 ft (59 m)[1]
Established1971
Administered byConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
DesignationConnecticut state park
Named forThe Lovers Leap cliff
overlooking the Housatonic River
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

History

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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.[3]

Features

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The park's historic features include the 1895 Berlin Iron Bridge, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places,[4] the ruins of the Bridgeport Wood Finishing Company factory,[3] and the remains of the Hurd estate which include the vine-encrusted "yellow cat tea house."[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lovers Leap". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ "Lovers Leap State Park". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Miller, Robert (June 8, 2008). "Preserving a past in ruins". The News-Times. Danbury, Conn. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  4. ^ "Lovers Leap State Park". Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  5. ^ Marteka, Peter (September 3, 2010). "View from Lovers Leap State Park like a painting". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Conn. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
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