For 100 years, Sleeping Giant State Park has served as the central landmark for the town of Hamden. On Oct. 12, the town gathered to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the state park.
“This place means so much to so many,” said Aaron Lefland, vice president of the Sleeping Giant Park Association. “Sleeping Giant has the remarkable ability to make you feel small in the best possible way. It’s a place where you can reconnect with the land, with yourself and with others.
Saturday marked the 100th anniversary of the Sleeping Giant State Park Association (SGPA), not the landmark itself, as the land has been used for thousands of years.
Created on March 4, 1924, the SGPA was formed as a nonprofit to raise funds required to open the park. Sleeping Giant State Park is Connecticut’s oldest state park and was originally established to protect the ridgelines of Sleeping Giant from quarrying. The main purpose of the association has been protecting, expanding and maintaining the park.
“This brings us to the present, maintaining all the backwoods trails remains a major task,” said Luis Arata, president of SGPA. “At the same time, the association continues to acquire land, the giant still expands.”
The day started with a formal ceremony, where leaders from SGPA, indigenous communities and town officials gathered to celebrate the occasion with the community.
The main focus of the day was honoring those who once occupied it and the history that comes with it.
“The wisdom of living in harmony with nature is more relevant than ever,” said Michelle Piper-Mitchell, the chairwoman of the Golden Hill Paugussett Tribal Nation. “The Sleeping Giant State Park is a reminder that land is not a resource to be exploited, but a gift to be cherished and respected.”
Nature admirers came out in droves from across the region to celebrate the anniversary, with over 6,000 people ascending the Giant Saturday, according to Connecticut State Parks. During a normal year, the park usually sees 35,000 visitors throughout the peak season – summer and fall.
Due to the heavy crowds and the work done to get ready for the celebration, park supervisor Jill Scheibenpflug took the time to credit the team that makes the park run smoothly year-round.
“I don’t do it by myself, Sleeping Giant has always been pretty lucky … we’ve had decent people work here through the years,” Scheibenpflug said. “The trail maintenance crew is awesome, if it wasn’t for them we probably still wouldn’t be open after the tornado (in 2018.)”
The State Parks Department also announced the plans for the park, many of which are already in motion, including a new visitor center with bathrooms, picnic shelters and additional tree planting.
To conclude the ceremony, Connecticut State Rep. Josh Elliott delivered a citation from the state.
“In recognition of the centennial anniversary of its incorporation on March 4, 1924 and its continued mission of conservation and stewardship, one of Connecticut’s largest state parks, the entire membership extends its very best wishes on this memorable occasion and expressive for continued success,” Elliott said.
Following the ceremony, park association members led guided hikes, of varying length and difficulty up the Giant and the Hamden Fire Department conducted a high-angle rescue demonstration from the quarry.
Down at the pavilion, visitors enjoyed food trucks, including CT Chowder Co.’s Get Stuffed Food Truck, Caseus’s Crispy Melty Food Truck and Moon Rock Cookies. Counterweight Brewing Co. also brewed a Sleeping Giant Hazy Pale Ale to commemorate the park’s milestone.
Rhythm Doctors, a rock band composed of Quinnipiac University professors, and Quinnipiac’s acapella group, The Legends, provided live music entertainment throughout the day.
”This is a beautiful park that is incredibly well maintained, and the people of Hamden and our surrounding neighbors are so lucky to be able to hike up here and enjoy its beauty,” said Hamden Mayor Lauren Garrett.