June 3, 2023

New Fairfield Legislative Delegation Touts Final Passage of Squantz Pond State Park Public Safety Bill

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Hartford — The Connecticut Senate has given unanimous consent to a bill previously approved by the House of Representatives to improve public safety in and around Squantz Pond State Park. State Representative Patrick Callahan (R-108) along with Senators Stephen Harding (R-30) and Julie Kushner (D-24) introduced H.B. 5009, requiring the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to establish a safety capacity and closure of the park to more visitors, regardless of entry by vehicle or on foot.

The House approved the measure 132 to 14 and the bill awaits Governor Lamont’s signature.

“We’ve proposed this bill for several years because of a spate of drownings due to overcrowding in the swim area. DEEP implemented a 250-car parking limit, a proxy for the maximum number of guests that can be safely accommodated. On hot summer weekends, the lot closes to new cars early so people started parking on private property, in business lots, or on the side of the road and walking down Route 39. This created different safety concerns because there are no sidewalks or shoulders and drivers zip by at 50 miles an hour. We’re concerned now, because walk-ins are not prohibited, that someone will be struck and injured or killed,” said Callahan.

Under this bill, there are several factors for DEEP to consider including the number of visitors that can be safely supervised based on staffing, parking capacity, if pedestrian safety would be threatened by traffic volume, and if the number of vehicles parked along the road would impede emergency vehicle travel.

“DEEP worked with us on the language of this bill, making sure it’s something they could enforce,” Callahan added.

“Senator Kushner and I certainly urge our colleagues to bring this to a passing vote. This is a beautiful resource, but it’s on a busy roadway, we want it open to the public in a safe manner. This bill will do that,” said Harding.

“When I first started representing New Fairfield this was one of the issues that came up. I love to hike here and it’s a beautiful swimming spot, but what worries me is that there will be a tragedy if we don’t do something now. It’s critical that we act now, we don’t want to wait for something bad to happen and then look back and say we should have passed this bill,” said Kushner.

If signed into law, DEEP must post a park capacity limit for Squantz Pond State Park on or before January 31, 2024.