Rules Tighten At Valley Falls Due To Litter, Swimming Violations

VERNON, CT — The beach at Valley Falls Park will now be monitored on the busiest days of the week and admission will be charged for entry, town officials said Thursday. The new policy is a response to large crowds bending the swimming rules and littering excessively, town officials said.

Valley Falls has been open to visitors under social distancing requirements, but the pond has been closed for swimming.

Large crowds have been gathering and largely ignoring those rules. Patch recently visited the park one weekend and observed close to 100 people in the water, clumped together. There was a flotilla of various rafts in the water, including one that was close to 8 feet long.

People are also not picking up after themselves, Vernon Parks and Recreation Director Marty Sitler said. Daily reports indicate that close to 50 pounds of litter are being picked up each morning.

Valley Falls will now be monitored similar to Newhoca Lake. The beach is operating at about a quarter of capacity, gauged by a 15-foot spacing requirement between blankets and chairs, or "family units," as Sitler calls them. Capacity will be judged visually, Silter said.

The charge will be $5 per vehicle and the front gate and lake will be supervised and lifeguards will be on duty.

Masks will be required for those leaving their units to walk around the sand, he said.

The rules are in effect Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.