Sleeping Giant State Park Could Remain Closed Until Fall
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Sleeping Giant State Park remained closed nearly a week after a microburst.
Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden could be closed until the fall because of massive storm damage, according to the Sleeping Giant Park Association.
Four tornadoes, a macroburst and a microburst struck Connecticut on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. When a tornado in New Haven County lifted, a powerful swath of damaging winds continued from Sleeping Giant State Park to Wharton Brook State Park in North Haven and then into Wallingford and Northford.
Deane Hetric
Deane Hetric
Deane Hetric
Deane Hetric
Here’s a look at the Tower Path as of July 15, two months after storms hit. The Sleeping Giant Park Association said the state is working to clear not only the path itself, but any trees in the “fall zone” to ensure the safety of future hikers.
Deane Hetric
Deane Hetric
Deane Hetric
Deane Hetric
Deane Hetric
Deane Hetric
Deane Hetric
NBC Connecticut
The landscape and treescape at Sleeping Giant State Park was permenantly altered after severe storms on May 15, 2018. This is a look at the park on July 12, 2018.
NBC Connecticut
NBC Connecticut
NBC Connecticut
The landscape and treescape at Sleeping Giant State Park has been altered after severe storms on May 15, 2018. This is a look at the park on July 12, 2018.
NBC Connecticut
Sleeping Giant State Park was closed for over a year after the storms. Here is a view of the park on June 14, 2018.
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Crews worked on tree cleanup for months. Here is a view of the park nearly one month after the storms on June 14, 2018.
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The storm damage has changed the entire look of sections of the park. Here is cleanup as seen on June 14, 2018.
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A significant amount of trees have been taken down, as seen one month after the storms. Here is a view as seen on June 14, 2018.
Here's a look at the park in the immediate aftermath of the storm.
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Here is a look at the park several days after the storm.
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Damage to the Jonathan Dickerman House in the immediate aftermath of the storm.
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Storm damage as seen the day after the storm.
Storm damage as seen soon after the storms.
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Storm damage as seen a day after the storms.
Storm damage as seen soon after the storms.
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Storm damage as seen soon after the storms.
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Tree trunks chopped in half as seen soon after the storms.
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Storms have changed the tree line of the park.
Sleeping Giant State Park has been closed since last week and the Sleeping Giant Park Association said all of the trails are closed to the public and are not expected to reopen until the fall.
“Even professional construction concerns brought in to consult are shaking their heads at the absolutely overwhelming task of cleaning up JUST the picnic and parking areas, and the Tower Path,” a posted on the Facebook page for the Sleeping Giant Park Association says.
Darren Sweeney took this amazing photo of Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden
We received this amazing photo of a trampoline caught in utility wires in Danbury
Heather Peracchio
Viewer Heather Peracchio shared this dramatic photo of the damage from the Candlewood Shores area of Brookfield
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Chief Meteorologist Ryan Hanrahan took this photo of the National Weather Service survey team in Brookfield
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Heather Burian shared this photo of Clover Nook Farm in Bethany
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NBC CT Chief Meteorologist took this photo of the damage in Oxford
Jordan
Viewer Jordan took this photo over Sleeping Giant in Hamden
Alison McCallum
A look prior to the storm hitting in Harwinton
Beverly Stebbins
Beverly Stebbins shares this photo of damage in Oxford
Desirae Mason
Desirae Mason took this photo showing trees down everywhere in Beacon Falls
@hannamordoh
Hanna Mordoh took this photo of ominous clouds over West Hartford
Thomas Norris
Thomas Norris shared this photo from Mystic
The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has warned people to stay away from the state parks that are closed. Crews from DEEP said they have not made a determination on when the park will reopen.
In a news release on Monday afternoon, DEEP said Sleeping Giant and Wharton Brook will remain closed through the holiday weekend and no determination has been made on when the two parks will reopen.
DEEP will decide by the end of the day Tuesday on the status of Kettletown State Park for Memorial Day weekend.
