(a) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, shall develop criteria and guidelines for the designation of heritage parks consisting of sites in a region linked by a common social, historical or economic theme. Thereafter, in accordance with such criteria and guidelines, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection may designate the boundaries, name and theme of any such park, as well as any physical sites to be included. Any designation shall be consistent with the plan for development of outdoor recreation and other natural resources authorized under section 22a-21 and shall be made after consideration of the significance of the heritage of the sites to be included and the economic benefit to the state from such designation. Sites designated for inclusion in a heritage park shall not be required to be contiguous to one another and need not be owned by the state.

(b) The commissioner shall conduct a public hearing concerning the boundaries, name, theme and sites to be included in a proposed heritage park at least thirty days prior to designation of such park. At least thirty days before such hearing, the commissioner shall cause to be published once, in a newspaper having a substantial circulation in the area affected, notice of the proposal to designate a heritage park along with notice of the time, date and location of the public hearing to be held on such designation.

(c) No site shall be designated for inclusion in such park unless the owner of such site consents to its inclusion.

(d) Upon designation of any heritage park, the commissioner shall develop a plan for the promotion and development of such park.

(e) The commissioner may designate additional sites to be included in a heritage park, provided the owners of any such site consent to the designation. The commissioner may, after a public hearing held pursuant to the notice provisions of subsection (b) of this section, alter the boundaries, name and theme of such heritage park.

(f) The commissioner may, within available appropriations, (1) establish and operate centers for the distribution of information about heritage parks, and (2) lease or purchase land or buildings and accept gifts, donations or contributions for the purposes of this section.

(P.A. 87-463, S. 2, 4; P.A. 95-250, S. 1; P.A. 96-211, S. 1, 5, 6; P.A. 11-80, S. 1; P.A. 14-43, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 95-250 and P.A. 96-211 replaced Commissioner and Department of Economic Development with Commissioner and Department of Economic and Community Development; pursuant to P.A. 11-80, “Commissioner of Environmental Protection” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection” in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 14-43 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting reference to State Historic Commission, deleted former Subsec. (b) re establishment of advisory board, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (b), redesignated existing Subsec. (d) as Subsec. (c) and amended same to delete provision re municipal approval of park name, boundaries and theme, redesignated existing Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (d) and amended same to replace provision re advisory board with provision re plan for promotion and development of park, redesignated existing Subsec. (f) as Subsec. (e) and amended same to delete provisions re consultation with advisory board and municipal approval, redesignated existing Subsec. (g) as Subsec. (f), and made conforming changes, effective May 28, 2014.