Get ready for the crowds

Connecticut state parks and forests have been getting more crowded, according to the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Over the past five years, annual attendance at state parks has increased from less than 9 million to more than 10 million annual visitors, the department said in a recent email.

But that’s nothing. Connecticut state parks and forests never closed — with two exceptions — and the crowds have been clamoring.

“This spring, we are experiencing much higher than usual attendance, with many areas seeing a doubling (or more) of the number of visitors,” a DEEP spokesman said. “We are experiencing much higher than usual attendance, reaching parking capacity at many parks on nice weekend days.”