Topstone Park In Redding To Open, With Restrictions

REDDING, CT — The town has announced that Topstone Park will be opening on Wednesday, with some new rules and restrictions.

• Residents will pay a daily fee of $5 per person upon entry; Seasonal Passes will not be sold.
• Social Distancing will be required, which will cap attendance to 40 park patrons. Tables will be moved 15 feet apart from each other, and patrons will be asked to set up 15 feet away from any another group.
• Masks will be required of all patrons (ages 2+) upon entry and while using shared facilities. Once at their spot on the beach, patrons may remove them. Before using the shared bathrooms or changing rooms, masks should be used until patrons return to their beach location.
• Advanced reservations are required, must be made by Redding residents, and only through an email to topstonereservations@townofreddingct.org. Walk ups are not allowed.
  • Residents may request up to 3 hour blocks of time during regular park operating hours (10:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. weekdays and 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. weekends).
  • Residents may make reservations for up to two dates, no more than up to two weeks in advance; the dates may not be consecutive, and only one advanced date can be on a weekend.
  • The subject line of the email should read "TOPSTONE RESERVATION REQUEST." Email deadline for reservations is 3 p.m. the previous day, ad residents may expect a reply by 7p.m.
  • Residents will receive an auto-reply so that to indicate their request was received and another email indicating if the request was approved.
  • Reservations may be made for up to 5 people in a family unit or group only, unless a larger family unit has already been registered in the town database.
• Upon arrival at the park, residents will be greeted by a staff member at the outer gate who will be checking the patron's reservation status, masks and driver's license.
• Payment will be accepted at the park entrance in the form of cash or a personal check. Patrons wishing to pay by card must make the payment by phone at least five days in advance.
• Boats and Tetherball will not be available for use.
• Bathrooms will be cleaned during the day and each night, and paper towels and cleansers will be available to adults for use before using the bathroom and picnic tables. Parents will need to bring their children to the bathroom each time.
• The park is only available for those 18 and older unless accompanied by an adult.\
• Patrons should bring beach chairs as the park will not be providing the shared plastic Adirondack chairs this summer.
• Overnight camping and birthday parties will not be allowed this summer at the park.
• No one under the age of 18 may be at the park unaccompanied by an adult.
• Reservations for use of the park by non-residents will be accepted beginning July 1, if capacity exists. Reservations from non-residents must be made two days in advance rather than the 14 days that are allowed residents. The fee for use for non-residents is $15 per person.

Redding Park and Recreation notes that it reserves the right to adjust its policies at any time, and that usage of the park is contingent on following the direction of park staff at all times. Patrons may be asked to leave for non-compliance with these guidelines.

"All who enter our facility acknowledge that they are engaging in activities that involve the risk of serious injury including permanent disability, illness, including but not limited to exposure to Covid-19, death and severe social and economic losses which might result not only from their own actions, inactions or negligence but the actions, inactions or negligence of others, the conditions of the premise or of any equipment used. Further, there may be other risks not known or not reasonably foreseeable at this time," town officials said in a news release.