Last year at this time, the Zimmerman family would seek out the solace of Wadsworth Falls State Park only a few times, their busy lives often getting in the way of a trip into the natural world.
For the past few months, the Middletown and Middlefield park has been a daily respite for them – and many others - from the pandemic that has gripped the state and halted most indoor and outdoor activities.
“It’s really been a godsend for our family,” Steve Zimmerman said during a recent outing with his family of four on a sunny spring day. “It’s good not only to get out in the woods, but also be with family and get away from the four walls we feel surrounded by.”
The Zimmermans are not alone. A report from the Connecticut Trail Census monitored trail use at 13 multi-use trails in March and compared it with March 2019. A total of 172,099 uses were recorded across the sites – a 77 percent increase. This was not just a short term trend - trail use numbers in April, May and June have all been up over 50 percent on many popular trails.
The Connecticut Outdoor Recreation Alliance has been hard at work over the past few months helping to get the outdoor recreation economy back up and running this summer.
The all-volunteer group promotes outdoor recreation as an alternative to mass entertainment events. The goal of the group is to act as an advocate for the outdoor recreation economy through marketing, partnerships with businesses, education and providing access to the outdoors. CORA has been working closely with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as the state carefully begins to reopen.
A key message for the group has been stressing the importance of the outdoors and its effects with mental health. The state parks, Connecticut Forest & Park Association’s Blue-blazed trails system as well as municipal hiking areas and land trust preserves have remained open while neighboring states have closed their recreational paths and parks.
The state’s 3,000 miles of trails allow residents to get fresh air, exercise and stress relief, according to Eric Hammerling, Executive Director of CFPA and a member of the CORA advisory board.
“This is an extraordinary time, with public buildings closing, large events cancelled and valid concerns about the spread of COVID-19,” he said. “Recreational trails like the Blue-Blazed Hiking Trails offer an activity that can still meet requirements for ‘social distancing,’ are free to all residents, and are conveniently located statewide.”
Mental health expert Andrew Meisler, said there are “enormous physical and mental health benefits from outdoor recreation. A clinical psychologist and avid trail runner said public spaces are important for everyone’s well-being.
“In the current climate, people will need it now more than ever,” he said.
Dr. Dennis Johnston, a clinical neuropsychologist and avid hiker, encouraged people to get out of the house and into nature.
"It is well known that exercise is good for mental and physical health,” he said. “but a recent study showed that exercising outdoors reduced anxiety more than exercising indoors. So, if people are feeling anxious and caged up indoors, then it is good to know that there are free, accessible options for getting outside and reducing stress."
Here in Connecticut, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is partnering with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to highlight the important role the outdoors can play in boosting both physical and mental health. DEEP will be live-streaming a series of mindfulness exercises held in Connecticut State Parks. The first event will feature Kettletown State Park in Southbury and will go live on Monday August 10th at 10am - check DEEP’s Facebook page to watch the livestream.
Do you know a local business or non-profit that could benefit from CORA? Please spread the word!
Join the Connecticut Outdoor Recreation Alliance
