KENT — A popular swimming, fishing, boating and wading spot on the Housatonic River has been closed for the rest of the summer after repeated incidents of overcrowding and littering, First Selectman Eric Epstein announced Friday, July 24.
In an email to residents Friday, Epstein said the eastern section of North Kent Road, a short lane that provides access to the swimming spot from Route 7, will remain closed through Labor Day, and possibly longer.
“People have to respect the area,” Epstein said. “If it’s not cared for, then it’s going to be an issue for everybody.”
The spot, which is a scenic and calm bend of the river flanked by a sandy beach, has been the center of access debates for years. Weekend crowding has raised concerns of safety, environmental health, emergency vehicle access and noise.
Most recently, the town closed the road during the middle two weekends of July following extensive littering and crowds of up to 200 people during the July 4 weekend, but left it open on weekdays. “During the week, it was no better,” Epstein said, prompting him to decide to barricade the road entrance from Route 7 for the rest of the summer.
The road was also closed at the end of last summer following similar instances of crowding and litter. At that time, officials stated conversations were ongoing among the various land managers at the site to find a sustainable solution that keeps the spot open while protecting it as a natural resource.
Those conversations are still happening, Epstein said, and that the goal remains the same. “I certainly don’t believe that would happen this year though,” he said.
He explained that complex ownership of the river and its banks at the site have made management difficult to strategize, but that progress is being made.
Groups with land and management responsibilities at the area include the town of Kent, the Wildlife Management Division of the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Conservation, the Kent Land Trust, Eversource Energy, the Housatonic Railroad Company, the Housatonic Valley Association, the Housatonic River Commission, the Appalachian Trail Association and others.
