Cohanzie Park
Rate this placeNearby: Leary Park Marilyn Road Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Cohanzie Park is a beautiful waterfront park situated in Waterford, Connecticut.
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Summary
The park offers a plethora of outdoor activities like hiking, birdwatching, fishing, and picnicking. The park's most notable feature is its scenic nature trails that lead visitors through lush woodlands and marshes, providing stunning views of the Thames River and the Long Island Sound.
Visitors can also explore the park's diverse wildlife and flora, comprising rare species like the Piping Plover, American Bittern, and Eastern Box Turtle. The park's butterfly garden and bird sanctuary are particularly popular among nature enthusiasts.
Cohanzie Park is also home to a well-maintained beach, which is ideal for swimming, sunbathing, and paddleboarding. The beach is equipped with changing rooms, restrooms, and a playground for children.
For history buffs, Cohanzie Park has a rich cultural heritage, dating back to the 17th century. The park's proximity to historic sites like the Harkness Memorial State Park and the Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site offers visitors a glimpse into Connecticut's past.
The best time to visit Cohanzie Park is during the summer months, especially from June to September, when the weather is warm and sunny, and the beach is open for swimming. However, the fall season is also an excellent time to visit the park, as the foliage transforms the park into a picturesque autumn wonderland.
In conclusion, Cohanzie Park is a fantastic destination for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and history buffs. With its scenic trails, beach, wildlife, and rich cultural heritage, the park offers something for everyone.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
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Laurel Lock Camp
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Youth Site 2
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Youth Site 1
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Leary Park
Marilyn Road Park
Sanctuary Basin
Connecticut College Arboretum
Bulkeley Square