#MiddleburyCT #SquantzPond
(HARTFORD)—Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced on July 3 that reservations for Squantz Pond State Park were full for July 4. Only those with reservations will be permitted to enter the park – those who do not have a reservation will not be permitted to enter the park and are encouraged to visit ctparks.com to make plans to visit alternate locations, including Sherwood Island State Park.
Earlier this spring, DEEP announced a new online reservation system (www.reserveamerica.com) to improve the visitor experience and park management on summer weekends and holidays at Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield. Park visitors have embraced the new reservation system, and July 4 is the first time that reservations have filled in advance. Other state parks can fill to capacity; the new system allows park visitors to check availability and make reservations in advance.
DEEP is pleased with the public’s utilization of the reservation system, anticipates that Squantz Pond State Park will continue to fill in advance on summer weekends (reservations are also full for Saturday, July 13), and encourages visitors to purchase reservations before attempting to visit the park. As of Wednesday, July 3, at 6 p.m., reservations are still available at www.reserveamerica.com for July 5 to 7.
Squantz Pond State Park, a very popular destination, frequently fills to capacity on summer weekends and holidays, leading to crowded conditions and travel disruptions for visitors turned away when the park reaches capacity. To help improve the visitor experience and avoid these operations challenges, DEEP launched a new reservation system to enable visitors to secure a parking spot up to 14 days in advance for summer holidays and summer weekends. Visitors are strongly encouraged to reserve a parking spot ahead of their visit.
The new system allows visitors to check the online system to see if any parking spots remain and to plan their holidays and weekends accordingly. Once reservations are filled, no one will be allowed to walk or drive into the park without a reservation.
Connecticut State Parks often fill to capacity. DEEP announces park closures in real time on our CT State Parks X feed, @CTStateParks. Please check the live updates through the day and have a backup plan in case your preferred park fills to capacity. DEEP’s new website, ctparks.com, has a park finder tool, that allows you to quickly and easily identify parks that offer your activity of choice within your geographic area.
