Madison Business Should Benefit More From Hammonasset: Officials

MADISON, CT - One million visitors visit Hammonasset State Beach Park in Madison each year and town officials believe a better job can be done in telling those visitors there is more to do in Madison besides going to the beach.

At a recent Economic Development Commission meeting, officials noted that the only signage when leaving the park directs people to the highway and it had been agreed it would be beneficial to provide signage to direct park uses to dining, shopping, lodging and gas opportunities in Town to hopefully encourage visitors to visit businesses in Madison.

Downtown Madison is only about a mile away from the state beach - and many people who visited the park are from out of town, out of state for that matter, and don't know what else Madison has to offer.

Economic Development Commission Chair Ryan Duques noted that the State has approved the installation of directional signs on the existing posts exiting the park. Town Planner Dave Anderson showed a possible design for a sign at a cost of $450 for a standard vinyl sign or $900 for carved plastic.

The draft showed a sign that would direct to gas,dining, shopping and lodging under wording that says “Discover Madison."

The Commission members agreed that the distances to the directed locations should be included on the sign.

The discussion is expected to continue on both a local and state level.