The state spent $5 million to improve Horseneck Beach, campground — here's what to expect
WESTPORT — Beach-goers and campers looking for a place to cool down will see some changes when visiting or planning to stay overnight at the Horseneck Beach State Reservation.
Acting Department of Conservation and Recreation Commissioner Stephanie Cooper recently led a ribbon-cutting celebration and tour of Horseneck Beach Campground to showcase the improvements that have been made as part of a $4 million investment.
Improvements to the day-use area at Horseneck Beach have also been made as a separate $1 million investment.
Upgrades to the playground are designed to provide a better camper experience, and the improvements to the beach are focused on the day-use area and investment in ecological restoration in response to climate change.
“It is about providing a better camper experience, making some safety enhancements and also making some environmental protection and accessibility improvements,” she said.
The work has been completed just in time for the first full summer camping season since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Electrical upgrades, beach access paths
Among the improvements are upgrades to all 100 campsites, new electric hookups at 68 of the campsites and adaptations to 10 of the campsites so that they are now fully accessible so people of any ability can use them and enjoy them.
There are new designated beach access pathways so that it’s easier to get to and from the beach while at the same time protecting the dunes around them, the road to the campground has become a one-way travel road into the campsites that allows vehicles to back in to each individual site, and there were improvements to the entry to the playground.
The amount of pavement was reduced by 30 percent throughout the project to create more permeable areas to manage stormwater, there were dune protection improvements, the playground was upgraded to add a new exercise area for adults, and the tennis court was resurfaced.
The state awarded the contract in May 2021 to the BSC Group for the design work and the T Ford Company as the general contractor, and the work began in the fall.
Ecological improvements
Starting this year, generators are no longer allowed at the campground as a climate-smart practice. Beyond restoration of the site, the focus is on ecological restoration to protect the dunes from emissions from the generators. More landscaping may be added over time so that there will be more shade.
The additions to the day-use area include a new plaza with a sun shelter, a new pavilion, improved drop-off areas for better circulation and pedestrian access and wood guardrail with screening on the bottom of it so that the endangered plovers don’t wander out into the roadway to protect them.
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Cooper said she believes the multidisciplinary team at DCR accomplished its goal of making the site more climate resilient.
To see the improvements to the campground and the beach, visit the Horseneck Beach State Reservation located at 5 John Reed Road in Westport.
Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter: @kgallreporter. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Westport's Horseneck Beach, campground unveil $5 million upgrades
