Huge Turn Out for MDC Lands Meeting

Approximately 800 citizens and legislative officials attended a public meeting of the MDC's Water Bureau hosted at the West Hartford Town Hall auditorium on Tuesday, July 20th. Since the capacity of the auditorium was only 500, several people waited patiently for an opportunity to participate in the meeting, which stretched from 5:30 until almost 8:00 p.m. A nice recap of the meeting was published in the West Hartford News. 

Every public official and member of the public who provided testimony encouraged the MDC to not close its lands to recreational activities, and most were also in support of strengthening the liability protection for municipalities (as a nonprofit municipal corporation, the MDC would be included in this protection). Public officials who spoke included the Mayors of West Hartford and Bloomfield, Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Simsbury 1st Selectman and Lieutenant Governor candidate Mary Glassman, several representatives from the General Assembly, and several others.

Attendees were urged by CFPA to take the "lemons" - the unfortunate mountain biking accident, a frustrating jury verdict, and the potential closure of municipal lands to the public - and make "lemonade" by fixing the Recreational Liability Statute to protect municipalities and keeping the MDC lands open. CFPA encouraged attendees and other interested individuals and organizations to take action and join GREAT (Grassroots Recreation Environmental Action Team), an email advocacy list that will be used to inform GREAT list members about key upcoming public hearings, events, etc. where active involvement will be critical.

To join the GREAT list, visit CFPA's home page (www.ctwoodlands.org), click on the Email List Signup button, enter your email address, make sure to click the Advocacy/GREAT email list button, and then submit your information. Thank you!