Connecticut State Parks are open this holiday weekend.  There have been some improvements made to many as Connecticut gets set to kick off the centennial celebration next month. 

Nearly all of the parks with swimming areas were closed before 9am Thursday, including Kent Falls, Squantz Pond, Rocky Neck, Indian Wells, Wadsworth Falls, Burr Pond, Gardner Lake, Lake Waramaug and Mount Tom.  There are restrictions on the number of cars allowed at each state park to prevent overcrowding and to allow lifeguards a smaller group of visitors to watch.

100 years ago this September the state Park Commission was formed, the kickoff celebration will be this August.  In December 1914, the Commission purchased its' first state land--the original 5 acres of what became Sherwood Island State Park in Westport.

State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner Susan Whalin says the entrance and parking areas at Kent Falls State Park have been redesigned and repaved.  The realignment of the Kent Falls parking area was done to bring additional safety to car coming off Route 7 entering the park.  She says the redesign makes it so cars can get into the park quicker.

Governor Malloy says state parks are an important economic engine for the state while adding to quality of life here.