Wadsworth Falls State Park
Encyclopedia
Wadsworth Falls State Park, or simply Wadsworth Falls, is a Connecticut state park
located in the towns of Middletown and Middlefield
. The park lies in the northeast corner of Middlefield, and extends across the town border into Middletown
with the main entrance on Route 157. The park itself consists of a series of marked trails covering 285 acres (1.2 km²) and is intersected by the Coginchaug River
, a tributary of the Connecticut River
.
There is also a swimming and picnicking area in the park grounds. The swimming pool
is paved with soil cement
to prevent leakage. Water is pumped from water well
s located near the Coginchaug River
. Through the hiking trails there is a small brown bridge
leading to the falls. Wadsworth Falls is 30 feet (9.1 m) high, with 52 feet (16 m) of water trickling over sandstone
along the trail.
in the New York National Guard who owned the property where the park now exists. He had a fine reputation in academics, and studied linguistics
avidly. He settled in Middletown, Connecticut
, home of Wesleyan University
, it became his passion for 45 years to preserve Wadsworth Falls. His will established the Rockfall Corporation, which is tasked to maintain the protection of the land, plants, and animals in his estate. In 1942 267 acres (1.1 km²) of the estate were given to the State of Connecticut.http://dep.state.ct.us/STATEPARKS/parks/wadsworth.htm The park is now operated by the Department of Environmental Protection and is open every day until sunset.
Dogs are allowed in the park while on a leash.
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
located in the towns of Middletown and Middlefield
Middlefield, Connecticut
Middlefield is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,203 at the 2000 census. The town includes the village of Rockfall-History:...
. The park lies in the northeast corner of Middlefield, and extends across the town border into Middletown
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
with the main entrance on Route 157. The park itself consists of a series of marked trails covering 285 acres (1.2 km²) and is intersected by the Coginchaug River
Coginchaug River
The Coginchaug River in Connecticut, with a watershed of including forests, pastures, farmland, industrial, and commercial areas, is the predominant tributary of the Mattabesset River...
, a tributary of the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
.
There is also a swimming and picnicking area in the park grounds. The swimming pool
Swimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
is paved with soil cement
Soil cement
Soil cement is a construction material, a mix of pulverized natural soil with small amount of portland cement and water, usually processed in a tumble, compacted to high density...
to prevent leakage. Water is pumped from water well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
s located near the Coginchaug River
Coginchaug River
The Coginchaug River in Connecticut, with a watershed of including forests, pastures, farmland, industrial, and commercial areas, is the predominant tributary of the Mattabesset River...
. Through the hiking trails there is a small brown bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
leading to the falls. Wadsworth Falls is 30 feet (9.1 m) high, with 52 feet (16 m) of water trickling over sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
along the trail.
History
The falls are named after Clarence C. Wadsworth, a colonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
in the New York National Guard who owned the property where the park now exists. He had a fine reputation in academics, and studied linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....
avidly. He settled in Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
, home of Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
, it became his passion for 45 years to preserve Wadsworth Falls. His will established the Rockfall Corporation, which is tasked to maintain the protection of the land, plants, and animals in his estate. In 1942 267 acres (1.1 km²) of the estate were given to the State of Connecticut.http://dep.state.ct.us/STATEPARKS/parks/wadsworth.htm The park is now operated by the Department of Environmental Protection and is open every day until sunset.
Features
This park features a pond with a sandy beach with lifeguard supervision in the summer. Amenities include picnic tables and grills for use in cook outs, flush toilets, a river stocked for fishing and a network of hiking trails.Dogs are allowed in the park while on a leash.