Weed Beach Darien Park and Recreation Park & Recreation 03-02-17

Changes in Rules Announced at Darien Parks

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The Darien Parks and Recreation Department has announced various changes related to more reopening of facilities now that the COVID-19 epidemic is spreading slower. Lifeguards will be on duty at both beaches starting July 1. Also, trash cans are being brought back to town parks on Friday. The department also announced that “all trash cans will be reinstated at all parks and beaches tomorrow, June 12, 2020.” In an email, Park & Rec Director Pam Gery said: “[W] had an unfortunate incident of two pictures of garbage left at Weed Beach that turned viral on social media today.

Weed Beach Darien Parks & Recreation Department

Darien Beaches Back to Closing at Traditional 10 PM Time, Tennis and Pickleball Courts Open

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Weed and Pear Tree Point Beaches are going back to their normal 10 p.m. closing times, and tennis and pickleball courts can be used by town residents, the Parks & Recreation Department announced Thursday. The announcement includes several other rules changes (all of which took effect on Thursday): The town now has a carry-in/carry-out policy regarding trash at parks (there are dumpsters you can use at the beaches). That includes taking your dog-poop bags with you, disgusting as that may be if you’re driving out. Here’s the Park & Rec announcement:
Beach Hours:
Beginning Thursday June 4, The Darien Parks & Recreation Department will be extending the closing hours of Weed Beach and Pear Tree Beach from 8 p.m. to our normal closing hours at 10 p.m.
Security guards will be on from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. with the park monitors working from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Please remember to SPREAD OUT TO STOP THE SPREAD while enjoying your beaches. Tennis Courts: may play singles and or doubles while always following the safety guidelines from the USTA. 
Pickleball: may play singles only until further notice.

Weed Beach

Darien Parks and Beaches Now Open: Here Are the Rules

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Darien Parks, including both beaches, are again open to Darien residents, the Parks and Recreation Department recently announced. They had been closed due to social distancing concerns in order to slow the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. Here are the rules for visitors, from the town government website:
BEACHES
• Beaches will be open to vehicles starting Thursday, May 7 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily

• Beaches will be open to Darien residents only

• Security guards will be checking for vehicle permit. A 2019 permit is valid through May 31, 2020. • Daily passes will not be sold at gate

• Park monitor will be enforcing social distancing rules, general park rules, and making sure large groups are not gathering

• No lifeguards will be on duty until further notice

• All picnic tables have been removed from the beaches • Trash cans have been removed.

Bradford Benton Woodshop program Darien Park and Rec online class

Darien Parks and Recreation Classes Go Virtual with Online Offerings

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Lisa Nelms of SproutChefs has taken her Darien Parks and Recreation classes online: Instead of offering hands-on classes in the Mather Center, the classes now come from Chef Lisa’s kitchen to the participant’s kitchens, by way of Zoom. — an announcement from Darien Parks and Recreation Department

Classes are setup so kids can be the chefs and their parents can assist as sous-chefs. During the next upcoming session, participants may pick and choose from a variety of dessert classes offered every Friday at 3 p.m.

Enrollment is limited to 10 participants, so that individual attention can be given to each chef. The classes are scheduled to last an hour, but that may vary. Some chefs finish early, while others may have more questions and want more time.

Jayme Stevenson somber

First Selectman to Those Gathering in Groups at Darien Parks: Don’t You Make Me Shut Them Down

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First Selectman Jayme Stevenson says people using town parks need to avoid gathering in groups to prevent spread of COVID-19 — or she’ll have to shut them the parks down, which she said would be a shame. As of Wednesday, it partly started: The Darien Parks and Recreation Department has already shut down use of tennis and paddle courts at town parks at Stevenson’s direction, as announced in this tweet:

 

“Socially distancing is the most important thing for us to do right now,” Stevenson said. “We can stop this virus in its tracks if we all pledge to ourselves and one another that we’re going to follow the appropriate social distancing protocols.” Stevenson urged parents to tell their children to stop gathering in groups in their neighborhoods or elsewhere in town, and she said that at this time play dates are a bad idea, as well:

“It would be a terrible thing for any one of us to have the virus, not be symptomatic and transfer it to one of our friends, one of our loved ones, our parents, our grandparents — somebody with a medical condition. “So please: You cannot gather.”