Visiting Niantic Bay Beach and Boardwalk Should Continue to Be Free!

On a recent summer day, I went for a walk on the newly re-opened section of the Niantic Bay Beach and Boardwalk and I was delighted to see that the 130-space parking lot near Cinci Park is still free.

There is a small wooden building underneath the Niantic River Bridge, which looks like a parking toll booth, but it was not staffed. 

While the boardwalk is not complete, the portion that is open to the public is a half-mile-long concrete section nestled between Long Island Sound and the Amtrak railroad.

There are several beach access points from the boardwalk including handicap accessible ramps. 

Despite the free parking and hot temperatures, there was plenty of room on the beach on July 17 as most visitors seemed to camp out on the beach section closest to the parking lot. 

While taking a walk and sunbathing are popular activities, there are learning opportunities as well. 

There are several educational signs funded by the Long Island Sound Fund about Millstone Point, the Niantic Bay during the last ice age, the Niantic River Bridges, the Long Island Sound watershed, how past hurricanes have wrecked havoc on the area, and a description of the view that visitors can see from the boardwalk of the different land masses including Plum Island, Long Island, and New York.

On my recent visit, I observed a small sandwich board sign on the boardwalk from the East Lyme Parks and Recreation stating, “stickers/passes required on all vehicles Memorial Day through Labor Day, walk in passes required for patrons over 16 years of age” yet nobody was in the parking lot checking passes and nobody was providing walk-in passes. 

The sign states that lifeguards are only on duty Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from June 21 to mid-August and only from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

In fact, only one lifeguard chair was setup on the beach section closest to the parking lot and the other sections had signs stating “Warning, No Lifeguard On Duty”. 

Rather than make the Niantic Bay Beach and Boardwalk a town money maker, the town should tout the beach as a place where folks can go for free to enjoy Long Island Sound. 

With little lifeguard supervision, the expense of running the beach should be minimal. 

Providing free beach access could encourage visitors to spend their hard earned money in the various shops and restaurants on Main Street in Niantic.

Additionally, free beach access provides equal access for everyone, not just those who can afford to pay.