Fortress Lynn Deming: New Milford Park Crackdown Gets Teeth

NEW MILFORD, CT -- At their meeting following the town's Independence Day celebration, the Town Council indicated they were considering what steps might be taken to reduce the number of nonresidents without proper passes who are enjoying the recently renovated Lynn Deming park.

By law, the town cannot prohibit nonresidents from visiting the park, but it can require that passes be purchased. As of last week, only four people had purchased the $25 daily ticket.

Mayor Pete Bass has now taken to Facebook to detail the steps the town has taken to shore up security at the park. Highlights include:

• All park security staff has been re-trained and given "cheat sheets" that highlight the most commonly broken rules and the park's security weaknesses.
• A security guard will check the ID of everyone walking into the park, and will turn away anyone not in possession of a proper ID or pass at the park entrance.
• Anyone found to be entering through the exit lane or the entrance without stopping for the security guards to verify their permit/pass will be escorted from the park.
• Drivers of cars who security guards notice are shuttling in multiple loads of people will have their permits revoked.
• Additional signage and traffic pylons have been placed along Candlewood Lake Road North as a deterrent to people parking there illegally and using it as access to the park. Anyone found to be parking there illegally will have their car towed.
• Park staff is now on duty patrolling the edge of the woods to prevent people from gaining access to the park from that area. Police are scheduled to make regular patrols during peak hours of park activity, and any park-goers lacking the proper pass or permit will be asked to leave or their vehicle ticketed, or towed.
• Boaters who drop people off and/or illegally dock their boat for the day will be subject to trespass laws and/or have their boat towed.

Bass said that, since the implementation of the new procedures and the reinvigorated policing of some old ones, "we have seen a tremendous improvement."

Photo contributed.