Norwalk Begins Moving Forward With Reopening Of Most Parks

NORWALK, CT — Though Norwalk has been one of the hardest hit Connecticut communities for the new coronavirus (COVID-19), the city is beginning to move forward with the reopening of most parks this weekend, Mayor Harry Rilling announced on Thursday.

In addition to the parks, certain amenities also will reopen on May 9, but all will be under strict new guidelines, Rilling said. Those include continued social distancing and the wearing of masks, and the closure of public restrooms, playgrounds and picnic tables at these sites.

Slated to reopen are:

• Boat Ramps and Marina at Veteran’s Park
• Garden plots at Fodor Farm
• Dog park at Taylor Farm
• Veteran’s Park
• Flax Hill Park
• Oyster Shell Park
• Matthews Park

Calf Pasture Beach and Cranbury Park remain closed to vehicular traffic until further notice.

"I am opening these parks and amenities with optimism that members of the public will continue physically distancing and that those who cannot, will wear a face covering," Rilling said. "These sites are going to be monitored closely by the Norwalk Police Department, and if we find that people are not adhering these guidelines and taking good precautions I may have to close them down again."

He added, "I get it – people are frustrated and want to get to back a new normal. We will slowly get there and this is a first step."

The move comes as the city continues to grapple with the virus, including the deaths of three more residents (now at 98), and 26 more confirmed coronavirus cases (now at 1,745).

"My stomach dropped when I learned that three more residents have died from coronavirus," Rilling said later on Thursday. "My heart aches for these families that have been torn apart because of this horrible virus. I cannot imagine the pain and grief they are feeling. I am so sorry for their losses and send my thoughts and prayers to their loved ones. While we are working to slowly reopen certain amenities and parks, please remember that three more people in our community just died. The decisions we make are a matter of life and death in many instances. I get people want to flip the switch and get back to normal, but that cannot happen based on everything I am hearing from the health experts. Norwalk – there is some light at the end of the tunnel, but it is still dim. Each day I hope and pray that it gets brighter and brighter. Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation."

Additional rules for the parks and amenities include:

• The Boat Ramps and Marina at Veteran’s Park will be open this weekend, Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10, from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. for daily launches and marina slip holders. Daily launches must be back by the posted times as the ramps will be closed each night.
• The Fodor Farm garden plots will be open daily 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Those working one their plots must wear face coverings and gloves, as gates, faucets, and hoses are being shared. The City and Friends of Fodor Farm will be monitoring physical distancing.
• The Taylor Farm Dog Park, Veteran’s Park, Flax Hill Park, Oyster Shell Park, and Matthews Parks will be open daily 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Members of the public must physically distance when using the parks, and wear a face covering when that is not possible.
• All playgrounds, public restrooms, picnic tables, and other amenities and areas remain closed until further notice. No more than five people are to be in any one area at a time and members of the public are asked not to interact with those outside of their immediate household.

Public access to these facilities are subject to change based on State of Connecticut guidelines, according to Rilling, but residents can stay up-to-date on the schedule of services and amenities in Norwalk by visiting norwalkct.org/citynews.

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