WHATELY — Tri-Town Beach picked an ideal day to open for the first time in two years, as beachgoers on July 1 were greeted with some of the highest temperatures of the start of the summer season.
“The weather is with us. It’s a beautiful day,” said Deerfield Tri-Town Beach Commissioner Patty Pirog. “We have worked hard and we still have work to do.”
The Tri-Town Beach Commission began planning in January after two years of disuse. The beach was closed in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and remained closed last season due to deteriorating beach conditions. Once the plans were drawn up, the commission worked on a list of repairs, including resurfacing the picnic tables, repairing the gazebo, getting hot water to the bathrooms, and rewiring the heating system. lighting, as well as general landscaping work.
“We’ve done a lot of work to get where we are. … We will continue to work on the repairs,” Pirog said. “It’s great to be able to do this for the community.”
The goal this year, Pirog said, was to get the park in good enough shape to open to the public. Next year’s goal is a “total upgrade” of the bathrooms.
Pirog said the beach restoration was a true community effort, as local individuals and businesses helped clean up, repair and prepare the park.
“We would like to thank everyone, including all the former commissioners. They started and we take over,” Pirog said. “It was family and community oriented. Without any of them it wouldn’t work.
In a post on the Tri-Town Beach Facebook page, the commissioners thanked several companies and individuals, including Galenski Landscaping, Jankowski Plumbing & Heating, Greg’s Wastewater Removal, Morin Electric, B. Gorey Fabrication, Dunn Rite Handyman Services and Washburn Concrete , as well as Deerfield Town Hall staff.
The beach is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. until Labor Day. Season passes are $50 for Deerfield and Whately residents; $100 for residents of Sunderland, Hatfield and Conway; and $25 for seniors. Day passes for residents of these towns cost $20 per car. Passes can be purchased at the beach gate in cash or by check. (Pirog noted that they hope to allow digital payments next year.)
Kayaks and paddleboards are available for beachgoers, and more are on the way. The floating dock needs repairs, but the commissioners hope to get it fixed. Group activities such as water aerobics and swimming lessons are also envisaged.
“It’s awesome,” Pirog said looking down the beach. “It’s a breath of fresh air. … We are rejuvenated with the support of the community.
Sunderland resident John Thayer was among the first to arrive at the newly reopened beach on Friday. As he spread out his towel to sunbathe, he said he was thrilled to finally use the beach as he had only recently moved to the area.
“I’ve been waiting for it to open since moving to Sunderland in 2020,” Thayer said. “I just came for a bit of sunshine. … Looks like they did a good job.
The beach currently has enough workers to be staffed “about 90%” of the time, but Pirog said more lifeguards and guards are needed for full staff. To inquire about applications to work at Tri-Town Beach, email Pirog at patty.pirog@covestro.com or visit the Deerfield website.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.
