Community Corner

State Tearing Down Sunrise State Park Buildings

Contractors for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection have taken down dozens of buildings so far.

Work on demolishing the buildings at Sunrise State Park in the Moodus section of East Haddam is continuing, with about two dozen of the buildings already coming under the wrecking ball. 

State Rep. Melissa Ziobron, R-East Haddam, who has pushed the state to clean up the former resort area, said today she is pleased so far with the efforts, but is focusing on making sure the work is done appropriately. 

Ziobron said that while some local residents had raised concerns about contractors tearing down the old "Toll House" building on the property and that she is working with local officials on saving the historic structure. 

Read Previous Stories on Sunrise State Park:

Ziobron said she visited the state park, which was once a thriving and popular resort that drew tens of thousands of tourists every summer from the region and beyond, on Saturday to review the work that was done there. 

About two dozen of the old cabins have been torn down so far, she said. 

Workers also intend to take down the former "Eclair Factory" building, but will leave some buildings along the Salmon River intact for a time during the nesting season for Bald Eagles in the area. 

She said she is talking with DEEP officials about making sure those buildings are closed off to would-be vandals and curiosity-seekers who might harm themselves inside the dilapidated buildings. 

While she said she appreciates the state's efforts to provide safe nesting areas for the eagles "that doesn't negate their responsibility to make that site safe, especially with boating and fishing season upon us." 



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