CT Officials Release Beach, Park Plan For Memorial Day Weekend

CONNECTICUT — The state has laid out its plan for parks and swimming areas to help reduce potential transmission of the coronavirus as Memorial Day weekend approaches.

State parks that feature beaches along the state shoreline will be open May 22 with capacity limitations. Swimming is only permitted at shoreline state parks and not at inland state park swim areas. The ban on inland park swimming is to prevent crowding, state Department of Energy and Environmental officials said in a news release.

Shoreline parks will be open with some restrictions. Visitors must maintain 15 feet of space from other beachgoers. This will allow 6 feet of distance around each group and a 3-foot walkway between groups.

"Based on the very limited size of our beach and swim areas at inland state parks, and current social distancing guidance, DEEP will close beaches at inland State Parks, and prohibit swimming at inland State Parks," DEEP officials said in a statement. "Again, this operational decision is based on the potential for on-shore crowding, not a concern of risk of transmission in freshwater."

DEEP will reduce parking capacity and close beaches for the day if social distancing can't be maintained.

Lifeguards won't be on shoreline beaches in Connecticut state parks early in the season. The beaches will be marked with signs to reflect the status of lifeguards.

State campgrounds, cabins, youth sites and backcountry and river camping sites will be closed until at least June 11.

Warm, sunny weather has attracted droves to the state's most popular parks the past couple of weekends. Some parks reached capacity before noon on particularly great weather days and the same can be expected over Memorial Day weekend. There is no shortage of other parks to check out in Connecticut with 142 state parks and forests in all.

See also: CT Reopening: Here’s What’s Open, And What Is Still Closed

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