By Julia Lucey
Since Here in Greenwich, there is nothing quite like a warm, sunny, not-too-humid, cloudless summer’s day, and such a day is always best spent outside taking in the charm of one of the town’s many parks and beaches. After three months with many of these spots open only with restricted access and others closed entirely, moments spent at any of these spaces are now feeling especially valuable and long-awaited. Here’s a list of many Greenwich parks and beaches now open and ready to help you appreciate the long summer days, so you can get back to your favorite place or perhaps give a new one a visit!
Perhaps one of the best known parks in the area, Greenwich Point Park, often referred to as Tod’s Point, is open daily from 6 am to sunset. Tod’s Point is the largest beach in town, with a long stretch of sand available for sunbathing and swimming. Also accessible from the beach are two concession stands which are now up and running serving drinks, meals, and ice cream. Beyond the beachfront, Greenwich Point is also known for its picturesque walking trails that wind through wooded areas and span across the shoreline. In addition, a great summer activity for anyone who loves the water is taking out a rental from Greenwich Community Sailing, which is now open and renting out an assortment of sailboats, kayaks, and paddleboards.
Byram Park is open from 8 am to sunset. The waterfront park offers a small beachfront with swimming access to the Sound, as well as a grassy park area with picnic table seating. You’ll also find a now open concession area, as well as multiple ball fields and tennis courts, walking paths, and a public marina. Also within the park is Greenwich’s new community pool, which is open to park pass holders from 11 am to 7 pm seven days a week (the kiddie pool is open until 6 pm). The pool complex includes the main pool, with 25 meter lap swim lanes and two open areas for free swimming, as well as a kiddie pool and splash pad area for younger children.
The town has recently resumed its ferry services to Island Beach, with certain social distancing and safety measures in place. The ferry runs daily from 10 am to 7 pm (with some exceptions) and is operating at reduced capacity; it is asked that riders use face coverings when a safe distance is not maintainable. In addition, the island’s concession stands, water fountains, playgrounds, and showers are not currently available to use, but the beachfront is open for swimming and Island Beach’s breathtaking views are ready to be enjoyed.
Similarly, residents can also ride the ferry to Great Captain’s Island, another island just two miles off Greenwich Harbour. Ferries will run to and from the Island daily from 10 am to 7 pm, and the full ferry schedule can be found online at greenwichct.gov. On Captain’s Island, you’ll find swimming areas, easy hiking, and a historic lighthouse that dates back to 1868.
The Montgomery Pinetum in Cos Cob provides 102 acres of walking trails, both paved and unpaved, that weave through wooded areas and around the park’s ponds. The trails offer an easy-to-moderate hiking experience, so they are suitable for hikers of all levels, as well as children and dogs. The Pinetum, commonly referred to as Pomerance, is open daily from sunrise to sunset, The grounds are also home to the Greenwich Botanical Center and their Horticulture Building, where the organization grows and cares for a wide variety of flowers and plants and hosts classes and other activities to promote conservation and horticulture.
Old Greenwich’s Binney Park is the perfect spot for a leisurely stroll or a picnic in the sun — or shade! The park and trails surround the pond, which is home to many snapping turtles and ducks. With many trees and blooming flowers studding the paths and charming stone and wooden bridges spanning the pond, Binney Park makes for an enchanting visit on a sunny day. Binney is open sunrise to sunset, and, in addition to its walking paths and lawns, the park has an assortment of playing fields, a softball diamond, tennis courts, and a playground if you’re in search of an open space for some physical activity! The park is just a short walk into Old Greenwich, so it isn’t uncommon to see
people gathered together enjoying some takeout.
The Cos Cob Park offers walking paths, a playground, a field, a picnic pavilion, and scenic views overlooking the Long Island Sound. The park is right off the Cos Cob train station and is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The walking trail loops around the park and playing field, providing beautiful outlooks over the Cos Cob Harbor and many waterfront homes. Cos Cob park is a popular spot for picnicking, as well, as nothing beats a delicious meal right in front of the Sound!
Bruce Park is from sunrise to sunset seven days a week and features walking trails and paths for light hiking through the park and around the ponds, as well as open lawns and picnic areas for relaxing. The park is also equipped with a baseball diamond, tennis courts, and croquet courts, along with an impressive playground structure.
It is, of course, still very important to be mindful of how we use these spaces and our efforts to distance ourselves from one another. This includes refraining from gathering in large groups and settling down in areas that are already heavily populated. Now that we know how hard it can be to be away from our beloved parks and beaches for several months, it is our responsibility to use this beautiful spaces with the community’s best interest in mind. That being said, even with some extra caution and a face covering when needed, these parks are here for us to use and enjoy, so be sure to give one a visit on your next free and sunny day!
