{"id":137781,"date":"2018-05-17T07:29:22","date_gmt":"2018-05-17T11:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=137781"},"modified":"2023-06-27T12:18:08","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T16:18:08","slug":"nature-park-opportunity-quiet-busy-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2018\/05\/nature-park-opportunity-quiet-busy-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"Nature Park an Opportunity for Quiet on Busy Campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Hillside Environmental Education Park<\/a> provides a quiet sanctuary and nature preserve for the UConn community, but isn\u2019t that far from the hustle and bustle of everyday college life. The proximity of a nature park so close to the core of campus is an asset to UConn, and the opportunities at HEEP are now even greater with the recent addition of more land and trails and more than a dozen trailhead and interpretive signs.<\/p>\n

HEEP first opened in 2008 in the North part of campus following the remediation and closure of the former UConn landfill, which dated back at least 50 years. It was established as a 64-acre preserve by a conservation agreement with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).<\/p>\n

After UConn removed 40,000 cubic yards of contaminated debris and completed other aspects of an extensive cleanup, the University began the process of creating and restoring wetlands, and removing invasive species throughout the site. Now, 10 years later, the area once again supports healthy ecosystems and active wildlife habitat.<\/p>\n

With the latest addition of land and trails, HEEP currently consists of 165 acres, with three miles of trails through a variety of habitats \u2013 uplands, meadows, woodlands, and wetlands. The entrances are located in C-lot, next to the Innovation Partnership Building, and on Hunting Lodge Road.<\/p>\n

On April 26, a dedication ceremony was held for the expanded park, new interconnected and blazed trails, and improved signage. The ceremony was the final event in UConn’s semester-long Environmental Metanoia.<\/p>\n

\"Richard<\/a>
Richard Miller, director of the Office of Environmental Policy, prepares to cut the ribbon at the dedication of the new trailhead to the Hillside Environmental Education Park on April 26, 2018. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
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Richard Miller, director of the Office of Environmental Policy, prepares to cut the ribbon at the dedication of the new trailhead to the Hillside Environmental Education Park on April 26, 2018. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"A<\/a>
A trail map of the Hillside Environmental Education Park.<\/div>
HEEP trail-heads 2018_Page_1<\/div>
A trail map of the Hillside Environmental Education Park.<\/div><\/div>\"Richard<\/a>
Richard Miller, director of the Office of Environmental Policy, speaks during the dedication ceremony for the reopening of the Hillside Environmental Education Park. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
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Richard Miller, director of the Office of Environmental Policy, speaks during the dedication ceremony for the reopening of the Hillside Environmental Education Park. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Cameron<\/a>
Cameron Faustman, dean of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, speaks during the dedication ceremony for HEEP. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
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Cameron Faustman, dean of the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources, speaks during the dedication ceremony for HEEP. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Rob<\/a>
Rob Klee, commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, speaks during the dedication ceremony for HEEP. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
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Rob Klee, commissioner of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, speaks during the dedication ceremony for HEEP. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Paul<\/a>
Paul Shapiro, mayor of Mansfield, speaks during the dedication ceremony for HEEP. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
HEEP180426c037<\/div>
Paul Shapiro, mayor of Mansfield, speaks during the dedication ceremony for HEEP. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"State<\/a>
State Senator Mae Flexer '02 (CLAS), speaks during the dedication ceremony for HEEP. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
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State Senator Mae Flexer '02 (CLAS), speaks during the dedication ceremony for HEEP. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"Mansfield<\/a>
Mansfield mayor Paul Shapiro, right, speaks with Rob Klee, commissioner of DEEP, prior to a group hike along the Hillside Environmental Education Park trail near the Innovation Partnership Building. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
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Mansfield mayor Paul Shapiro, right, speaks with Rob Klee, commissioner of DEEP, prior to a group hike along the Hillside Environmental Education Park trail near the Innovation Partnership Building. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"A<\/a>
A group hike follows the reopening of the Hillside Environmental Education Park trail near the Innovation Partnership Building. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
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A group hike follows the reopening of the Hillside Environmental Education Park trail near the Innovation Partnership Building. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"A<\/a>
A group hike follows the reopening of the Hillside Environmental Education Park trail near the Innovation Partnership Building. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
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A group hike follows the reopening of the Hillside Environmental Education Park trail near the Innovation Partnership Building. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div>\"A<\/a>
A group hike follows the reopening of the Hillside Environmental Education Park trail near the Innovation Partnership Building. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div>
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A group hike follows the reopening of the Hillside Environmental Education Park trail near the Innovation Partnership Building. (Peter Morenus\/UConn Photo)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

\u201cThe HEEP\u2019s expansion and improvements are the result of hard work, dedication, and collaboration by people from all over campus,\u201d said Rich Miller, UConn’s director of environmental policy. \u201cIt\u2019s a real-life trash-to-treasure story, where UConn has not only cleaned up an environmental problem, but created in its place a terrific outdoor recreational and educational resource for everyone in the area.\u201d<\/p>\n