State warns parks could reach capacity for Fourth of July

Call it the triumph of the “staycation.”

Connecticut”™s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said state parks, especially those with swimming areas, could reach parking capacity early in the day during the three-day Fourth of July holiday weekend.

A string of years with midweek July 4s is over.

DEEP Commissioner Robert Klee said, “With the 4th falling on a Friday, signaling the beginning of a long weekend, we expect our parks to be very busy. As you plan your holiday weekend and visits to state parks, plan ahead and anticipate some traffic and crowds, especially if you plan to visit Connecticut”™s shoreline parks with swimming areas.”

Connecticut”™s park system has 107 state parks and 32 state forests.

“Go early, but before you head out the door check Twitter for parking news and learn about other nearby parks you may want to visit,” Klee said. “Be prepared to choose another park if your first-choice park is full, so that you won”™t be disappointed on this important July Fourth holiday. As we continue Connecticut State Parks Centennial, parks are increasingly popular and sometimes parking areas fill to capacity ”“a testament to what a great value our parks provide for us all.”

Announcements of parks that are filled to capacity will be made on parks department Twitter and Facebook feeds.