Season’s First Swim Approaching

By Kendra Bobowick

Bathing suits are still wedged into canvas bags from last August’s vacation, and an uncapped sunscreen fills the camper with sticky coconut scent.

Last summer may seem distant, but swim season starts all over again in just a week. On May 23 the town’s two swimming areas — Treadwell Park pool and Eichler’s Cove beach — will welcome the array of beach towels and flip flops, sunglasses and sandals back to either the sparkling pool side or the rustic cove on an inlet where the Halfway River spills into Lake Zoar. Lake Lillinonah boat launch also offers recreation, but no swimming, in that location.

Unlike last year, pool and beach passes are not separate. Parks & Recreation Director Amy Mangold explained, “It was suggested last year that it was not affordable to buy a pass for both locations.” Combined residents’ swim passes for both spots are $150 for a family for the season and $55 for an individual. “We hope to see more people using the beach rather than choosing where they can afford to spend their summer,” Ms Mangold said.

Day passes are $10. “Buy one; go check it out,” encouraged Assistant Parks & Recreation Director RoseAnn Reggiano. Day passes offer the chance to see a facility and try the beach or pool for a day. Daily passes, however, allow up to six visits. Residents with a pool pass can purchase a $30 daily pass, or six visits for a friend, for example. Nonmembership daily passes are $48. Costs for all passes are doubled for nonresidents. All passes must be purchased online. Daily pass holders should print a receipt, which will be stamped by an attendant at the park.

General park passes that permit residents into a facility — not the beach or pool — are free, and available at the Parks and Recreation Department at Town Hall South behind the police station. Bring proof of residence such as a utility bill, vehicle registration, and a driver’s license to the office.

Park hours at Eichler’s Cove especially also are extended to accommodate residents’ requests. Last year’s operating hours saw the gates close at 6 pm. “By the time mom or dad got out of work and wanted to join the family, the park was closing up,” Ms Mangold said. Both swimming areas are open until 8 pm this year. The cove opens at 10 am — also a change from last year.

Swimming passes do not include access to either the boat launch or the Eichler’s Cove Marina, but residents who purchase a boat slip for the season have access to the beach.

Are you a boater? Residents’ boat launch passes for Lake Lillinonah and Eichler’s Cove are each $100 for the season; purchase a combination pass for both facilities for $150. A daily launch pass for Eichler’s Cove is $15. Registration must be completed online. Visit Newtown-ct.gov and find the link for the recreation department. Season passes will arrive in the mail, and must be displayed on vehicles entering the facilities. Day passes also must be purchased online; present the receipt to the gate attendant. No money will be collected at the parks.

Residents’ seasonal marina slip rentals are between $1,025, and $1,275. Nonresident passes are between $1,225, and $1,475. Pavilions at Treadwell and Dickinson Park are also available. A $50 deposit is required and the resident rental fee is $125. The nonresident fee for Treadwell is $250, or $325 for Dickinson.

Where To Go

If you only want to hop in the boat, travel to the end of Hanover Road and find the Lillinonah Boat Launch. A parking facility there will be gated after hours. Purchase a pass online and print a receipt. Bring the paperwork to the recreation department office to receive a key for the gate. Launch and park permits must be displayed on any car entering the facility.

Treadwell Park is located on Philo Curtis Road, off of Riverside Road, just past the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company’s main firehouse. Making a quick right turn onto Philo Curtis, the park’s entrance is alongside the tennis courts. The pool and pavilion are at the back portion of the parking lot. Improvements to the facility include a shade structure for the children’s pool area and a new pool filter.

Eichler’s Cove, once a private marina, park, and swim area that the town purchased in past years, was open to the public for swimming for the first time last year. With a reconfigured and widened beach area, boat launch and roughly 60 boat slips and picnic area, the cove awaits a crowd of beachgoers. Ms Mangold hopes that residents will be encouraged to visit the facility where they set foot in shifting sand that recreation crews will spread this year.

Travel the length of Route 34 almost into the Stevenson section of Monroe and make a left onto Great Quarter Road, then an immediate right on Old Bridge Road. After about 100 yards the boat launch comes into view. A walk down a gravel lane brings residents to the beach. For information about park facilities, passes, and rates, visit www.Newtown-ct.gov, and select the recreation department link.