Man found dead in recreation area

CHESTER — State and local agencies are investigating the discovery of a man’s body at the Pattaconk Recreation Area Tuesday.

Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection officers and state police joined members of the Chester Fire Department in an area of Cockaponset State Forest after receiving reports of an unresponsive man, DEEP said in a press release late Tuesday.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene, they said. An autopsy will be conducted by the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner. The individual’s identification was not immediately released.

After being closed for several hours during the investigation, the park was reopened as of late Tuesday afternoon.

The area, which includes a boat launch and lake, is part of the larger Cockaponset State Forest, which covers more than 16,000 acres in 11 towns.