2 CT State Parks Closed To Swimming Heading Into Weekend

CONNECTICUT — Gay City State Park in Hebron, and the swimming area of Mashamoquet Brook State Park in Pomfret, were closed to swimmers Friday, but Gay City was awaiting test results and might reopen over the weekend, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

Each week, state officials collect water samples from swimming areas to determine whether bacteria indicator levels are safe. Gay City was scheduled to be tested Friday with results to be released on Saturday, officials said.

"Indicator bacteria are not disease-causing pathogens but are one of the tools used by public health and environmental protection authorities to evaluate the potential for contamination of waterbodies," CTDEEP officials said.

Rocky Neck in Niantic was reopened to swimming Friday after being closed, and in the case of Mashamoquet Brook, that park's swimming area remains closed for maintenance.

The following Connecticut state parks were open Friday heading into the weekend:

SHORELINE
Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison
Rocky Neck State Park, Niantic
Sherwood Island State Park, Westport
Silver Sands State Park, Milford

LAKES AND PONDS
Black Rock State Park, Watertown
Burr Pond State Park, Torrington
Chatfield Hollow State Park, Killingworth
Cockaponset State Forest (Pattaconk), Chester
Day Pond State Park, Colchester
Gardner Lake State Park, Salem
Hopeville Pond State Park, Griswold
Indian Well State Park, Shelton
Lake Waramaug State Park, Kent
Mount Tom State Park, Litchfield
Pachaug State Forest (Green Falls Pond), Voluntown
Quaddick State Park, Thompson
Squantz Pond State Park, New Fairfield
Stratton Brook State Park, Simsbury
Wadsworth Falls State Park, Middlefield
Wharton Brook State Park, Wallingford