At Bluff Point, visitors – more than 500,000 each year! – come to walk the trails, weave though wooded coastal forest, and watch for the more than 200 bird species that can be found in the park. With trails that pass through wooded forest, tidal wetlands, coastal bluff, rocky shorelines, sandy beaches and dunes, and grasslands, there’s always something new to see around every corner. Along the way, hikers can take in views of the Poquonnock River and even “choose their own adventure” – walking the bluff for panoramic vistas of Long Island Sound, detouring along Bushy Beach where shorebirds feed, or looping back through the wooded forest to the parking lot. It’s no wonder many visitors return time and again.
“Bluff Point is my happy place. It’s such a beautiful place to hike and enjoy the outdoors while surrounded by water views.” – Bluff Point visitor
It’s not hard to understand why Bluff Point is so special. Yet despite its beauty and ecological importance, Bluff Point faces challenges. High tides and heavy rain can flood trails and parking areas, making parts of the park impassable. Visitors walking to the beach may find the path back covered in several inches of water, and the main entrance under the Amtrak tracks can be completely blocked after storms.
To address these issues, park managers turned to the people who know Bluff Point best: its visitors. Parkgoers were invited to share their experiences and priorities, helping guide the development of a new Site Plan for the property.
The Connecticut Reserve, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), and SLR Consulting received a Long Island Sound Futures Fund grant in October 2023 to assess the area, collect visitor feedback, and develop a Site Plan for the property. With this support, the project team collected feedback from 640 parkgoers, more than half of whom frequent the property at least monthly, and hosted public meetings to hear in-depth input about challenges and potential improvements.
“The parking lot is insufficient and floods regularly, as does the main entrance under the railroad tracks.”
“The parking lot has huge holesthat make it difficult to drive.”
“I can’t go with a family member who is partially blind because of the roots and uneven path.”
– Survey responses from Bluff Point visitors
Based on this feedback and from the assessment of the area, the project team developed a series of improvements:
Improvements to the park won’t just affect visitors’ enjoyment of the area. They’ll also help ensure the continued protection of this ecologically and recreationally important area. Bluff Point is the largest undeveloped wooded coastal peninsula between New York and Cape Cod, supporting a wide range of wildlife. Visitors pass through six different habitat types with over 200 bird species, including herons, hawks, cormorants, and the federally threatened piping plover.
The property is divided among three state designations: Bluff Point State Park, Bluff Point Coastal Reserve, and Bluff Point Natural Area Preserve. Each of these areas has special rules and regulations to balance sensitive habitats and recreational use. The property is also a Long Island Sound Stewardship Site and part of the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Each of these areas has special rules and regulations to balance sensitive habitats and recreational use. The Project Team received just under $3 million through the NOAA Bipartisan Infrastructure Law National Estuarine Research Reserve System Habitat Protection and Restoration Competition. This funding will address flooding along the main trail and improve emergency access—efforts made possible by the Long Island Sound Futures Fund’s initial investment and, importantly, the community members whose input shaped the plan.
To learn more about this project, visit https://s.uconn.edu/bluffpoint or contact BluffPoint@uconn.edu.
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