Connecticut Forest & Park Association

Mission

The Connecticut Forest & Park Association (CFPA) protects forests, parks, walking trails, and open spaces for future generations by connecting people to the land. CFPA directly involves individuals and families, educators, community leaders, and volunteers to enhance and defend Connecticut's rich natural heritage. CFPA is a private, nonprofit organization that relies on members and supporters to carry out its mission.

Needs Statement

There is still a $30,000 gap in the funding available for the "Gateway to the New England Trail" boardwalk, kiosk, and observation platform project at Chittenden Park in Guilford. CFPA has received grants from the DECD, Guilford Foundation, and National Park Service, but still have significant funds to raise in the next year. CFPA's Board is working to improve its overall diversity. We have good geographic diversity, skills diversity, and a healthy mix of male/female Board members, but we lack in age diversity, ethnic diversity, and socioeconomic diversity. This is an important effort as we move forward with a goal of being a more representative statewide organization. CFPA would benefit greatly from a Volunteer & Events Coordinator. CFPA has over 200 volunteers who help with the Trails, and are contacted by many other potential volunteers, student groups, teachers, walk leaders, corporate groups, etc. who are able and willing to help, but due to inadequate staff resources we simply cannot fulfill many requests every year. This would help to expand the benefits of our work and enable program staff working with Trails, Education, Land Conservation, and WalkCT to deliver programs more effectively. Cost: $35,000/year. CFPA is about to launch into the printing of the 20th Edition of the Connecticut Walk Book, a collection of maps of the Blue-Blazed Hiking System. This is an enormous effort that CFPA is undertaking with an eye to the traditions of producing a book, and the new interest in online, digital media. We estimate that it will cost up to $150,000 for this project (editor, map production, printing, etc.). A smaller amount of funding (under $10,000) would assist our work with a professional to develop a mini-strategic plan or campaign for this large undertaking and allow us to test some alternative printed and electronic media.

Impact Statement

Since CFPA has been conserving Connecticut since 1895, we have the advantage of pursuing goals and accomplishments that transcend many years. For example, CFPA has been maintaining the 825-mile-long blue-blazed hiking trail system with volunteers since 1929. The system's growth over time is an amazing accomplishment as well as a continuing goal. Our top priority Trails goal for 2013-14 is completing the "Gateway" to the New England Trail (one of 11 national scenic trails in the country) in Guilford running down to Chittenden Park on Long Island Sound. This would be the realization of a dream of connecting the New England Trail from Long Island Sound up to New Hampshire, and would coincide with the 375th anniversary celebration of the Town of Guilford. CFPA has been coordinating CT Trails Day activities in Connecticut every year since 1993 and last year, we featured more Trails Day events in Connecticut (203) than in any other state in the nation. This year, we anticipate over 230 events taking place during the first weekend in June and have a goal of at least one event in every town in the state (we should have events in 140+ out of 169 towns this year). CFPA has been training professional and informal educators how to deliver Project Learning Tree curricula in their classrooms since 1996. Our goal will continue to be reaching more educators (and by extension, more students) each year. Last year, approximately 55,000 students in Connecticut were reached through CFPA's efforts. CFPA is working to transform its headquarters into a model of energy efficiency with grounds that provide information on native/non-native plants, forest health, wetlands, and recreational trails. CFPA hosts meetings by over 60 individual organizations each year and is literally the place where conservation meets. CFPA has invested in energy efficient insulator windows and will look into solar and geothermal as potential sources of power for the building. This may be a longer-term goal, but we will keep working toward it until we reach our destination.

CEO statement

Board Chair Statement

Areas Served Narrative

CFPA is a statewide organization. For example, the Blue-Blazed hiking trail system is found in 88 towns. CFPA owns or holds an interest in properties on approximately 2,000 acres in various locations. CFPA's education, advocacy, and WalkCT programs have statewide impacts.

CEO statement (optional)