I am reluctant to call these 62 acres in East Haven a state park. While it is certainly a park owned by the state, this is not another Sherwood Island or Hammonassett . There is no sprawling beach here, or ballfields, concession stands, or pavillions. Instead you will find a marshy piece of land that leads to a small marina and kayak launch.
I entered the park from Mansfield Grove Lane and followed a dirt and gravel road which winds its way between a large meadow and pond. A few condiminiums overwhelm the horizon at first, but they give way to a more natural landscape as you continue east. In the 1980's, this area was under heavy development pressure as old cabins and cottages were replaced by gated communties and new housing. The state was fortunate to purchase this land when it did.
Upon reaching the marina (operated by Quinnipiac University), I walked south a few hundred feet to a small beach area with some picnic tables nearby. Across the river I could see Kelsey Island, with its pink granite shoreline very much like the Thimble Islands several miles east. Geologically, this is a unique stretch of Long Island Sound.
With large tracts of available land nearly nonexistant, and waterfront prices, excessively expensive, Farm River may be the type of park we see more often in the future. There is not something for everyone here, and that is its best appeal.
CT Coastal Access Guide: Farm River
DEP: Trail Map
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