Ahead of the July 4th Weekend, visitors to state parks and boat launches are being urged to plan ahead, arrive early, and have a back-up plan in mind in case the location of your choice is full and closed to new visitors upon arrival. 

State Parks such as Squantz Pond in New Fairfield often fill to capacity on the holiday and other nice summer weekends. Once capacity is reached the park is closed for the day and new visitors will be turned away for the rest of the day.

Parking illegally outside of a park can result in a ticket or your vehicle being towed. 

 Each year, DEEP says traffic congestion, parking issues, and visitors being turned away contribute to a disappointing experience for many would-be visitors.  There is no parking allowed on nearby streets outside of Squantz, unloading near the park, or any other violations of posted traffic signage.  

DEEP recommends checking the “What’s Open Outdoors” page of the agency's website prior to venturing out to a park, and to have a back-up plan in mind ahead of time in the event a park closes while en route.  Many State Parks and Boat Launches reach capacity and close early on holidays and nice summer weekend days, with some reaching capacity as early as 9:00 a.m.