Connecticut River Greenway State Park is a protected environment with public recreation features that consists of separate state land holdings, including open spaces, parks, scenic vistas, and archaeological and historic sites, along the Connecticut River in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts.[2] The state park includes critical wildlife and plant habitat as well as areas providing public access to the river in its run across the state[3] and is intertwined with other protected land including farmland under state-held agricultural preservation restrictions[4] (a type of conservation easement), municipal and conservation land trust holdings, and state and national wildlife refuges.
History
The Department of Conservation and Recreation acquired most of the parcels over a period of 20 years beginning around 1986, adding to earlier state holdings including Mount Tom State Reservation, Mount Holyoke Range State Park and J.A. Skinner State Park. Much of the DCR's land acquisition for the park was spearheaded by staff person Terry Blunt (1941-2010), of whom Director of State Parks and Recreation Priscilla Geigis said, "It's really been his leadership and his vision and his drive that has helped to coordinate so many different entities, landowners, towns, organizations, to come together and protect this very special place."[5][6]
Activities and amenities
The park's 12 miles (19 km) of protected shoreline offer opportunities for motorized and non-motorized boating, canoeing, fishing, and picnicking. Numerous access points are identified by the DCR where the river can be tackled:[2]
Pauchaug Brook, Northfield
One mile north of Northfield Center on Rte. 63. Paved parking area and ramp which can accommodate canoes and motorboats.[7]
Interstate 91 to exit 18 south on Rte. 5 in Easthampton. Thirty-five parking spaces and a paved ramp. Customarily used by high-powered recreational craft and larger fishing boats.[11]
South Hadley/Chicopee Boat Access
James St. downstream from the Holyoke dam. Gravel ramp for shallow draft fishing boats. Popular during shad fishing season.
^"2012 Acreage Listing"(PDF). Department of Conservation and Recreation. April 2012. Archived from the original(PDF) on June 7, 2017. Retrieved January 30, 2014.
