More State Beaches and Parks are Open Again - Patch.com

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The continuing cleanup and recovery progress from Irene will allow the state to open more than 50 state parks and 17 state park beaches to open for the Labor Day weekend.

"We have more parks and beaches ready for the public – and remember, Governor Malloy has directed us to open the gates free of charge for the holiday weekend," said Daniel C. Esty, commissioner of the state's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.  "We hope people are able to take a break from their work to rebound from the storm and enjoy some time outdoors."

The free admission to state parks and beaches applies only through Labor Day and does not apply to state park campgrounds, where normal camping fees will be charged. At some parks that are open, some services may not be available and some areas will be marked as off limits due to storm damage.

A complete list of state parks, state park beaches and state park campgrounds that are open is available at the state's storm website. The list is updated several times a day as power comes on, damage is cleared and parks are deemed safe to reopen.

Among the state parks currently open across Connecticut are Hammonasset Beach, Rocky Neck, Peoples State Forest, Squantz Pond, Stratton Brook, and Fort Trumbull State Park.

By Saturday morning, 17 of the 23 state park beaches were open for the holiday weekend.  They are: Black Rock State Park, Burr Pond State Park, Day Pond State Park, Gardner Lake State Park, Gay City State Park, Hammonasset Beach State Park (west beach remains closed), Hopeville Pond State Park, Lake Waramaug State Park, Mount Tom State Park, Pattaconk Recreation Area (Cockaponset State Forest), Quaddick State Park, Rocky Neck State Park, Sherwood Island, Silver Sands, Squantz Pond State Park, Stratton Brook State Park and Wadsworth Falls State Park.

The state's major state park campgrounds at Hammonasset, Rocky Neck and Black Rock, as well as smaller campgrounds, such as Lake Waramaug and Housatonic Meadows are open.  Several campgrounds – mostly those in the eastern part of the state will remain closed for the weekend.  These include Hopeville Pond, Salt Rock, Devil's Hopyard, and Kettletown State Parks.

Indian Well State Park in Shelton will open Saturday, but the beach area will be closed to swimming until water quality test results are available.

Advance reservations for camping this weekend are necessary for those locations that are open.  Campers will automatically receive full refunds for the nights they are not able to use their reservations because campgrounds were closed.  For information about reservations or refunds please visit www.reserveamerica.com

The DEEP reminds state park beach-goers to be aware that with summer winding down and many lifeguards going back to school there may be a reduced number of lifeguards at some locations this weekend.