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09/22/2021 09:15 AMWith a pandemic fueling increased use and multiple beaches including one of Connecticut’s premier state parks, Madison has had to negotiate some difficult issues concerning beach access, parking, and the associated traffic and problems.
Though First Selectwoman Peggy Lyons said that the data is not yet compiled, the overall sense was that this season was a more relaxed and better organized summer for beachgoers and residents.
“It seemed to be quite a quiet summer overall, which was fantastic. Weather certainly played a role-it was such a wet summer. But over all there was plenty of access to facilities and the beaches were fully staffed,” said Lyons. “It was a good beach season.”
Parking restrictions implemented last year were lifted, making the full lot accessible to all users, and according to Lyons there were just a handful of days when the park reached capacity.
The addition of a new bus shuttle line, limits at certain parking areas, and the hiring of new staff by the state have all contributed to a less hectic and less stressful summer season for both beach-goers and residents, according to Lyons.
The implementation of the bus line, which runs from the center of town down to the state park did help, but according to Lyons the usage was not as heavy as some anticipated.
“We don’t have the final numbers yet as we are still reviewing the data, but it seems that the shuttle was not highly used. I think that was because it simply wasn’t promoted enough. And I think with more promotion it will better serve the community,” said Lyons.
The town has been requesting assistance from the state, which controls how Hammonasset Beach State Park is operated, for several years going back to the pre-pandemic era. Staffing shortages and the impact of so many people on the Emergency Services Department have been an on-going problem for the town.
However, the implementation of new state safety officers did have a beneficial impact. These personnel are not law enforcement and cannot make arrests, but they provide information, guidance, and assistance for traffic flow that contributed to the easing of the impact on the town’s emergency services.
“We have had multiple meetings with the state and with the head of DEEP [Department of Energy & Environmental Protection] about the impact the parking and traffic has on the town. The number of calls are a huge drain on public safety resources,” Lyons said. “These new officers were very helpful in traffic control, so Madison police didn’t have to be there all of the time.”
Lyons said that there are plans in the works to further enhance traffic flow next year. The town is hoping to make the current front entrance to Hammonasset solely for entry, routing the exit for the park to another site.
Lyons further said that there will be a review by the Board of Selectman to better understand what measures were successful.
“In October we are planning a debrief for the board to see how the season went and to see what worked and what didn’t,” said Lyons, adding that “overall it was quiet a vast majority of the time, but there is always room for improvement.”