Full Notification

FIREWORKS 2021 – TRAFFIC, PARKING, ROAD CLOSURES, OTHER RESTRICTIONS & INFORMATION:

SATURDAY, JULY 3, 2021 (Rain date of July 5th if necessary)

Fireworks explode just after dark, usually around 9:15 PM, from a barge off the Long Island Sound so the show can be seen easily from either Penfield or Jennings Beaches.

EXPECT SIGNIFICANT DELAYS following the fireworks on Post Road and all streets leading to/from the beach area.

Many towns in our area are not hosting fireworks displays so we are expecting to see a large increase in attendance at our beaches and in boat traffic. Included below is a great deal of information regarding parking and traffic. We highly encourage you to read through this entire email carefully so you are fully prepared with information about closures, traffic patterns and drop offs that will impact the process of arriving to and departing from our beaches.

LIMITED PARKING:
Beach Parking lots can be accessed either with a Season Beach Pass or by purchasing a Daily Pass for $50.00 per vehicle.

Daily Passes will be limited to the first 300 vehicles at Jennings Beach and the first 100 vehicles at Penfield Beach. A Daily Parking Fee will also be charged to park at the Ash Creek Open Space Parking Lot the day of the fireworks.

Parking lots will fill. Once the threshold is reached, no additional non-permit vehicles will be allowed into the beach parking areas. Plan on getting there early so as not to be disappointed.

TRAFFIC INFORMATION:
In the interest of public safety, the below listed streets will be posted with “No Parking Tow-Away” signs on July 3, 2021. Any vehicles parked in the designated tow zone areas after 5:00 PM on July 3rd (or the rain date of July 5th if necessary) will be towed at the owner’s expense. This is a necessary action to provide access to the beach area for fire apparatus/other emergency vehicles and to facilitate the movement of the large volume of traffic.

Streets to be posted:
~Old Post Road
~Reef Road – south of Richard White Way (One Rod Highway)
~Penfield Road
~Lalley Blvd
~Rowland Road
~Edward Street
~South Benson Road
~Portions of Fairfield Beach Road.
~Riverside Drive
~Turney Road

All streets in the beach area will be strictly enforced for all parking violations and cars in violation will be towed at the owner’s expense.

Any vehicles towed during this event will be taken to the Fairfield Fire Training Center at 205 Richard White Way. Owners may claim their vehicle and pay all fees up to 1 hour following the conclusion of the Fireworks, otherwise the vehicles will be towed to Sport Hill Service Center at 2629 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield.

CLOSURES BEGIN:
Once the fireworks have begun, at approximately 9:15 PM, streets leading from the beach area will be turned into “one way” from the Beach to the Post Road. NO TRAFFIC will be permitted to go south of the Post Road into the beach area until all exiting traffic has cleared. In addition, Rowland Road and Edward Street will be closed to all traffic to allow unrestricted access for emergency vehicles.

I95 Exit Ramps at Exits 22 South & 22 North will be closed once the fireworks begin.

EXITING AFTER THE FIREWORKS:
At the end of the fireworks all vehicle must follow designated exit routes and proceed to the Post Road, no exceptions. Most vehicles will be prohibited from turning onto Post Road or Old Post Road. This is to reduce cross traffic, make it safer for pedestrians, and allow for quicker clearance of the beach area.

Vehicles exiting SOUTH BENSON MARINA must exit to Riverside Drive and then to the Post Road, where they may proceed north bound onto Grasmere Avenue or east bound onto Fairfield Avenue.

Vehicles exiting JENNINGS BEACH must exit using South Benson Road, which will be converted into two travel lanes in the north bound direction. Vehicles in the right lane must turn onto Old Post Road where they will proceed to Post Road at the Traffic Circle. Vehicles in the left lane must proceed straight across Post Road and onto North Benson Road, they will not be able to turn onto Post Road.

Vehicles exiting PENFIELD BEACH must exit Fairfield Beach Road using either Beach Road, Penfield Road, or Reef Road. Traffic on Beach Road will be directed across Post Road and onto Round Hill Road. Traffic on Penfield Road will be directed to Mill Plain Road via Old Post Road and the Post Road. Traffic on Reef Road will be directed to Post Road via Oldfield Road and Sasco Hill Road.

An interactive map of departure routes may be found here: fpdct.com/fireworks-departure-routes.

PARKING RECOMMENDATIONS:
To ensure the most convenient exit, cars wanting to travel west (toward Westport) after the fireworks should park at Penfield Beach. Cars wishing to travel east (toward Bridgeport) after the fireworks, should park at Jennings Beach.

The following recommendations for parking are based on the general neighborhood you will be returning to:

Southport: Penfield Beach, exit using Reef Road.
University: Penfield Beach, exit using Beach Road OR Jennings Beach, exit using South Benson in the left lane.
North Stratfield: Jennings Beach, exit using South Benson in the left lane.
Stratfield: South Benson Marina or Jennings Beach, exit using South Benson in the right lane.
Tunxis Hill: South Benson Marina or Jennings Beach, exit using South Benson in the right lane.
Fairfield Woods: Jennings Beach, exit using South Benson in the left lane.
Lake Mohegan: Penfield Beach, exit using Penfield Road.
Greenfield Hill: Penfield Beach, exit using Penfield Road.

SPECTATOR PICK-UP:
If you are picking up a spectator after the fireworks, you will NOT be permitted access to roadways south of the Post Road. It is recommended that you meet at the New York Bound side of the Fairfield Center Train Station (via Mill Plain Rd or Unquowa Rd) or wait until traffic clears to enter the beach area.

If you reside south of the Post Road, it is recommended that you walk or bike to the Firework display and not use your vehicle.

PEDESTRIANS:
Please be aware of the high volume of vehicle traffic upon the conclusion of the Fireworks. Use sidewalks or designated pedestrian walking areas where available.

RESTRICTIONS:
No fireworks of any kind, including sparklers, are allowed on any of the beaches or parking areas. In addition, there is no alcohol, smoking, vaping or portable grills permitted at any Town beach. Police will be strictly monitoring the beach areas for violations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
There will be an increased police presence in the beach area during the day of the fireworks. Report any suspicious or unusual activity to Police at (203) 254-4800 or DIAL 911 in an Emergency.

More information can be found at www.fairfieldct.org/fireworks.