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Alcohol Banned At Another Connecticut State Park For Public Safety Reasons

The possession and consumption of alcohol has been temporarily banned at Gardner Lake State Park in Salem – effective this weekend – to improve management of that park and address public safety issues there, Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection announced. 

Indian Well State Park in Shelton is one of 22 in Connecticut where alcohol is banned.

Indian Well State Park in Shelton is one of 22 in Connecticut where alcohol is banned.

Photo Credit: File
Sherwood Island State Park in Westport is one of 22 in Connecticut where alcohol is banned.

Sherwood Island State Park in Westport is one of 22 in Connecticut where alcohol is banned.

Photo Credit: File

The ban was put in place “because large numbers of people consuming large volumes of alcohol there is not a combination conducive to public safety and enjoyment of our state’s natural resources,” said DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee. 

 “The ban I have issued means no alcohol at Gardner Lake State Park and State Environmental Conservation (EnCon) Police officers from this agency will enforce this ban. We also appreciate the offer of local law enforcement to support this new policy.”

Alcohol bans are now in place at 22 of Connecticut’s 142 state parks and forests, including at Indian Well State Park in Shelton, Sherwood Island State Park in Westport, Silver Sands State Park in Milford and Squantz Pond State Park in New Fairfield.

Gardner Lake State Park is a popular state park in Salem with a beach and swimming area as well as a nearby state boat launch.

During the past few summers, EnCon Police and DEEP State Parks staff have observed increased crowds and an increased number of incidents. These conditions create considerable disruption for other park visitors and their enjoyment of the park, as well as for DEEP staff as they manage the park on busy summer days.

The parks with alcohol bans in place are:

  • Bigelow Hollow State Park (entire park) in Union
  • Black Rock State Park (entire park) in Watertown
  • Burr Pond State Park (entire park) in Torrington 
  • Eagleville Dam (entire state property) in Coventry 
  • Gardner Lake State Park (entire park) in Salem
  • Hopeville Pond State Park (entire park) in Griswold
  • Housatonic Meadows State Park (entire park) in Sharon 
  • Indian Well State Park (entire park) in Shelton
  • Kent Falls State Park (entire park) in Kent 
  • Kettletown State Park (entire park) in Southbury 
  • Macedonia Brook State Park (entire park) in Kent 
  • Mansfield Hollow State Park (entire park) in Mansfield 
  • East Killingly Pond area (Mashamoquet Brook management unit) in Pomfret 
  • Miller's Pond State Park (entire park) in Haddam
  • Nepaug State Forest (entire forest) in New Hartford 
  • Osbornedale State Park (entire park) in Derby 
  • Pachaug State Forest, Mt. Misery and Green Falls campgrounds in Voluntown, Griswold, Plainfield, Sterling, North Stonington, Preston
  • Satan's Kingdom State Recreation Area (entire park) in New Hartford 
  • Scantic River State Park (entire park) in Enfield, East Windsor, and Somers
  • Sherwood Island State Park (entire park) in Westport
  • Silver Sands State Park (entire park) in Milford
  • Squantz Pond State Park (entire park) in New Fairfield

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