Town officials are tackling a wide range of issues and problems created by Superstorm Sandy. The said Friday morning that their first priority is helping to clear more than 90 areas in town where downed trees are tangled with power lines. They say they are anxious to finish clearing trees. In order to do that, they need someone from CL&P to work with them to make sure it's safe to work near the downed power lines.
A representative from CL&P told town officials Friday morning that she would contact her supervisors to see if that could be arranged. While town officials work on that (and members of the town's police department work with the town's public works employees to clear what they can working with chain saws from the bucket of a payloader), town officials continue to dedicate town resources to other jobs in town, including making the town's beaches and playing fields safe again.
Madison Beach & Recreation Director Scot Erskine said Friday morning that he anticipates town beaches and playing fields should be ready by Saturday. Garvan Point at the town's Surf Club will not be open, he said, due to damage from Sandy. And the town's two piers, at East Wharf Beach and West Wharf Beach remain closed due to damage from Tropical Storm Irene last year. But the rest of the town's beaches and playing fields should be in good shape and ready to go.
Officials from the state Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) say "Hammonasset Beach State Park will partially reopen on Saturday. The public may access the East Beach and Meigs Point portions of the park, but West Beach and Middle Beach remain closed as those areas are being utilized as a staging area for utility and debris management contractors."
Here is information from the state DEEP on other state parks:
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that most State Parks will re-open this Saturday morning, November 3rd. Some parks (or portions of parks) remain closed due to damage from the storm (see table below). As always, park patrons are urged to use caution on trails and forest roads, as some debris remains after the storm. Patrons should also be aware of potential danger from hanging limbs or storm-damaged trees.
“I want to thank all of the DEEP staff who worked so hard before, during, and after Hurricane Sandy to prepare our parks for the storm, and get them re-opened to the public as soon as possible,” said DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty. “There is still a good deal of work to do – especially at our coastal parks – but re-opening almost all of our parks less than a week after a major hurricane is testament to the hard work and dedication of the DEEP staff.”
Silver Sands State Park in Milford will open on Saturday as well, but the boardwalk will remain closed as it sustained serious damage in the storm. We urge the public to please stay away from the damaged portions of the boardwalk.
Other areas will be open as soon as conditions allow. Please check DEEP’s State Park website (http://www.ct.gov/deep/stateparks) for updates on which parks remain closed.
Parks remaining closed:
State Park
Town
Status
West
Haystack Mountain SP
Norfolk
Closed
Mount Tom SP
Litchfield
Closed
Talcott Mountain SP / Heublein Tower
Simsbury
Closed
Sleeping Giant SP
Hamden
Closed
Collis P. Huntington SP
Redding
Closed
Sherwood Island SP
Westport
Closed
Kettletown SP
Southbury
Closed
Squantz Pond SP
New Fairfield
Closed
East
Chatfield Hollow SP
Killingworth
Closed
Gillette Castle SP
East Haddam
Visitor Center and Castle, Closed;
Park Grounds, Open
# # #
DEEP: Most States Parks Re-opening Tomorrow, November 3, 2012
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) today announced that most State Parks will re-open this Saturday morning, November 3rd. Some parks (or portions of parks) remain closed due to damage from the storm (see table below). As always, park patrons are urged to use caution on trails and forest roads, as some debris remains after the storm. Patrons should also be aware of potential danger from hanging limbs or storm-damaged trees.
“I want to thank all of the DEEP staff who worked so hard before, during, and after Hurricane Sandy to prepare our parks for the storm, and get them re-opened to the public as soon as possible,” said DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty. “There is still a good deal of work to do – especially at our coastal parks – but re-opening almost all of our parks less than a week after a major hurricane is testament to the hard work and dedication of the DEEP staff.”
- Silver Sands State Park in Milford will open on Saturday as well, but the boardwalk will remain closed as it sustained serious damage in the storm. We urge the public to please stay away from the damaged portions of the boardwalk.
Other areas will be open as soon as conditions allow. Please check DEEP’s State Park website (http://www.ct.gov/deep/stateparks) for updates on which parks remain closed.
Parks remaining closed:
State Park
Town
Status
West
Haystack Mountain SP
Norfolk
Closed
Mount Tom SP
Litchfield
Closed
Talcott Mountain SP / Heublein Tower
Simsbury
Closed
Sleeping Giant SP
Hamden
Closed
Collis P. Huntington SP
Redding
Closed
Sherwood Island SP
Westport
Closed
Kettletown SP
Southbury
Closed
Squantz Pond SP
New Fairfield
Closed
East
Chatfield Hollow SP
Killingworth
Closed
Gillette Castle SP
East Haddam
Visitor Center and Castle, Closed; Park Grounds, Open
# # #
