Connecticut Coastal Access Survey

Greetings from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Coastal Management Program. As part of a periodic effort to assess the Program’s effectiveness in providing public access to Connecticut's coast, including the shoreline of coastally-influenced tidal rivers, DEP would like your opinion on how well the public is served by existing facilities that provide the public with opportunities to recreate along Connecticut's shore. Please take 5 minutes to answer the following 10 questions about how well these facilities and the DEP website meet your coastal recreation needs.

1. When visiting Connecticut’s coast or tidal rivers, which of the following outdoor recreational activities do you participate in? (Check all that apply)

When visiting Connecticut’s coast or tidal rivers, which of the following outdoor recreational activities do you participate in? (Check all that apply) Fishing

Nature Observation (e.g.birding, photography, etc.)

Recreational boating

Waterfowl hunting

Hiking or other trail-based activities (e.g. bicycling, strolling)

Cultural activities (visiting museums, historic sites, lighthouses, etc.)

Swimming/beach activities

I have not visited Connecticut's coastal waters for recreation purposes in the last 3 years

Other (please specify)

2. How would you rate the overall availability of public access to Connecticut’s coast and tidal rivers for the recreational activities you participate in?

How would you rate the overall availability of public access to Connecticut’s coast and tidal rivers for the recreational activities you participate in? Excellent

Good

Adequate

Fair

Poor

3. How would you rate your satisfaction with the QUALITY (e.g. condition of facilities, site maintenance, conflicts with other users) of sites that provide recreational public access to coastal waters?

How would you rate your satisfaction with the QUALITY (e.g. condition of facilities, site maintenance, conflicts with other users) of sites that provide recreational public access to coastal waters? Very satisfied

Somewhat satisfied

Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied

Dissatisfied

Very dissatisfied

4. Considering the scarcity of funds to enhance public access to Connecticut’s coast, if given only the following alternatives, which would you prefer:

Considering the scarcity of funds to enhance public access to Connecticut’s coast, if given only the following alternatives, which would you prefer: Improve conditions at EXISTING access areas (e.g., boat launches, improved walkways, interpretive signs)

Create NEW public access sites that provide unimproved access to coastal waters (e.g. acquire an undeveloped lot with an existing dirt footpath to a tidal creek)

No opinion

5. What conditions at coastal public access areas associated with commercial or residential developments (i.e., not a state or town facility) have prevented you from visiting such sites (Check all that apply)

What conditions at coastal public access areas associated with commercial or residential developments (i.e., not a state or town facility) have prevented you from visiting such sites (Check all that apply) Inadequate parking

Lack of clear separation between public and private areas

Unsafe or uninviting site conditions

Unclear on how to locate or where to enter site without trespassing

Lack of interesting things to do

None of the above; have not encountered barriers to public use of privately-owned sites

Other (please specify)

6. What types of site amenities or facilities do you look for when deciding whether to visit a public access area provided at private developments? (Check all that apply)

What types of site amenities or facilities do you look for when deciding whether to visit a public access area provided at private developments? (Check all that apply) Benches

Interpretive signs

Car-top boat launches (where site conditions can accommodate this use)

Improved trails (stone dust, concrete or other hard surfaces)

Unimproved trails (i.e. dirt paths)

Interesting landscaping (e.g. native grass and bush plantings to attract birds)

Site amenities or facilities do not influence my decision on whether or not to visit a coastal access site

Other (please specify)

7. What is the greatest impediment to visiting coastal public recreation areas you have not previously visited or returning to a public access site that you have not visited in the past 3 years?

What is the greatest impediment to visiting coastal public recreation areas you have not previously visited or returning to a public access site that you have not visited in the past 3 years? There are no impediments to visiting Connecticut's coast

Do not know where to go or how to get to other sites

Prohibitively expensive entrance or parking fees

Not enough to do at the area

Don’t feel safe going to new areas

Other (please specify)

8. Have you used the CT Coastal Access Guide website to locate a public access site?

Have you used the CT Coastal Access Guide website to locate a public access site? Yes (Please proceed to question #9)

No (Please open the following link to the CT Coastal Access Guide to open and review the website, then proceed to question #9 - CT Coastal Access Guide )

9. What additional information would you like to see on the Connecticut Coastal Access Guide or what changes would you suggest we investigate making to the site?

What additional information would you like to see on the Connecticut Coastal Access Guide or what changes would you suggest we investigate making to the site? Link public access sites to Google or other free mapping websites that provide aerial photographs of the site

Additional or updated ground photos of site

More detailed site description

No additional information is needed

Other (please specify)

10. To help us better understand our coastal visitors, please let us know your home town/state/zip code.

To help us better understand our coastal visitors, please let us know your home town/state/zip code. City/Town:
State:
ZIP/Postal Code: