I don’t know whether to love or hate Clinton based on its town beach non-resident parking fees.
On the one hand, imagine if we adopted this in Hartford. Want to park a car inside Elizabeth Park? That’ll be $75 on Labor Day Weekend for everyone who is not a Hartford resident. Want to park by the carousel for half an hour? That’ll be $50. You wanted to play golf in Keney Park or Goodwin Park? Hartford will collect $75 if you want to store your car. We all should go as hard as Clinton in the War on Cars.
On the other hand, charging such a sum is some elitist bullshit.
So, instead I will talk about how to access places without paying parking fees.
The first thing to do is not have a car.
Problem solved.
Barring that, leave the car at home and arrive some other way, to remove any of that anxiety the general public seems to experience over where to park legally and if the vehicle will be “safe” and how much this will cost.
Whether the villagers like it or not, Clinton is served by train and buses. While Hammonasset Beach State Park — in Madison and Clinton — may be more expansive, the Clinton Town Beach is a 10-minute walk from the nearest bus stop and about twenty minutes from the train station. There are sidewalks leading to the town beach; this is not the case for Hammonasset, where you would be on the shoulder where the speed limit is 40 MPH.
Yes, you should be asking questions about why that is.
In the meantime, with the town beach, you simply walk or bike in.
Perhaps there is a park/beach somewhere that is the exception, but what I have encountered so far is (1) obliviousness to pedestrians, combined with (2) the people working the gate not being the type to care too hard. Because we live in such a car-centric culture, it’s safe to assume that those collecting money are assuming that anyone arriving on foot lives in the neighborhood.
My other tip, which is not specific to this location, but applies in many places, is that there is rarely ever only one entry point. This does not matter so much if pedestrians/cyclists are left alone when entering, but if there is an occasion where a town or park service has decided to charge (what ends up being more for) walk-ins, look on a map and go around.
It’s not sneaking in. It’s enjoying the natural world, which cannot be fenced off to responsible visitors because they have the wrong zip code or type of bank account. It’s rejecting arbitrary and artificial boundaries.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, Clinton Town Beach is a delightful piece of sand that does not require you to make a full day of it. If you walk south past the main beach you can find slivers of sand for more private sunbathing and swimming, and this is where you’ll encounter cute shorebirds and find shells. You can even see Cedar Island from here.
Keep going, and you can begin the Osprey Observation Walk, ten platforms created by the Clinton Land Trust. Two of these are in the Hammock River salt marsh, east of and viewable from the town beach. Meander along the footpaths with your binoculars or camera.
Take a sandy path south and you will eventually come out into a residential neighborhood, where two more osprey platforms are viewable. If you’ve got the time, go find all ten.
When you’ve had your fill of osprey and egret, sandpipers and monarch butterflies, dragonflies and crabs, take a look around at what you likely missed while speed-walking to the beach.
Route 1 and Waterside Lane have sidewalks and make for the most direct route between the train station and this little beach. This is also signed as the Clinton Blue/Greenway. It is a way to find nature, but don’t be fooled — that does not mean this is a separated bicycle path.
The Greenway will guide you to the town beach, but also through the Eliot Preserve; if you are driving (why?!) you can park behind Clinton Town Hall while exploring this Clinton Land Trust property which borders the Indian River. It’s 17-acres of meadow with a 1/4-mile loop trail.
Between the Clinton Blue/Greenway and the Osprey Observation Walk, what more could you want? This takes you by The Arsenal — kind of a badass name for a house and one that makes me wonder if I should not put a similar sign on my home, like “Beware Of….” The Arsenal is the oldest house in the Clinton Village Historic District, and part of it was originally located on the beach before being moved up the road.
This area — East Main Street, Cemetery Road, Church Road, Old Post Road, Liberty Street, and Waterside Lane — has 150+ historic buildings and accoutrement to view while meandering. Clinton Cemetery, Liberty Green, and Waterside Green fall within this area, and it’s worth popping your earbuds in to drown out the car noise on Route 1 while having a look around.
Always look (from the sidewalk) down the driveways, up on the roofs, along the paths, and in the backyards. Take note of the row of lavender encroaching on the sidewalk, how when you brush against it the air is scented.
My favorite thing about certain seaside villages is how many of the yards are not monoculture wastelands, but tiny spaces in which the tenants make every square inch count.
My other favorite thing is how people will use color on their homes in a way that you would never in some of the fancy inland suburbs.
Turquoise shutters? A pastel rainbow of lawn chairs? This is New England, dah-ling, but we don’t need all of our homes to be strictly beige and tan, now, do we?
Along Route 1 is where to exorcise, or park, your demons.
And look at antiques.
There are art galleries, a hippie shop, a vintage shop, and some restaurants.
You’ll see more miniature flags than benches, which is fitting. Not letting people get too comfortable in public is the American way.
If you’ve been wondering how reach the historic and interesting parts of any town, one way that almost never fails is to arrive by train, since most train stations were established back before the sprawl began.
What have we learned today?
- It might be mandatory that residents post a Clinton Summerfest and Fireworks sign on their lawn
- Follow the Clinton Blue/Greenway and Osprey Trail for calm views and nesting birdlings
- Parking fees do not apply when you got nothing to park
- We all need mermaid and witch weathervanes now
Does Clinton get a seal of approval?
Looks like it already has one.
Getting there: Get off at the Shore Line East Clinton Station. Walk for about one minute to reach Route 1.
[Apologies for low quality of photos, but I’m blaming this on public transit because had Amtrak not been ten million years late getting to Hartford, I would’ve made it to the shore before the light was super harsh.]
As of 2022, the free Clinton Trolley runs Thursday and Friday, 4 PM to 9 PM; Saturday, 12-9 PM; and Sunday, 12-6 PM. It will operate on Labor Day.
The 641 and 645 bus also goes near the train station. There’s also Dial-A-Ride — which is $3.50 and open to anyone, so long as you’re seeking a ride Monday-Friday from 6 AM – 6 PM and make the reservation a day in advance.
Beyond Hartford: Clinton
I don’t know whether to love or hate Clinton based on its town beach non-resident parking fees.
On the one hand, imagine if we adopted this in Hartford. Want to park a car inside Elizabeth Park? That’ll be $75 on Labor Day Weekend for everyone who is not a Hartford resident. Want to park by the carousel for half an hour? That’ll be $50. You wanted to play golf in Keney Park or Goodwin Park? Hartford will collect $75 if you want to store your car. We all should go as hard as Clinton in the War on Cars.
On the other hand, charging such a sum is some elitist bullshit.
So, instead I will talk about how to access places without paying parking fees.
The first thing to do is not have a car.
Problem solved.
Barring that, leave the car at home and arrive some other way, to remove any of that anxiety the general public seems to experience over where to park legally and if the vehicle will be “safe” and how much this will cost.
Whether the villagers like it or not, Clinton is served by train and buses. While Hammonasset Beach State Park — in Madison and Clinton — may be more expansive, the Clinton Town Beach is a 10-minute walk from the nearest bus stop and about twenty minutes from the train station. There are sidewalks leading to the town beach; this is not the case for Hammonasset, where you would be on the shoulder where the speed limit is 40 MPH.
Yes, you should be asking questions about why that is.
In the meantime, with the town beach, you simply walk or bike in.
Perhaps there is a park/beach somewhere that is the exception, but what I have encountered so far is (1) obliviousness to pedestrians, combined with (2) the people working the gate not being the type to care too hard. Because we live in such a car-centric culture, it’s safe to assume that those collecting money are assuming that anyone arriving on foot lives in the neighborhood.
My other tip, which is not specific to this location, but applies in many places, is that there is rarely ever only one entry point. This does not matter so much if pedestrians/cyclists are left alone when entering, but if there is an occasion where a town or park service has decided to charge (what ends up being more for) walk-ins, look on a map and go around.
It’s not sneaking in. It’s enjoying the natural world, which cannot be fenced off to responsible visitors because they have the wrong zip code or type of bank account. It’s rejecting arbitrary and artificial boundaries.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, Clinton Town Beach is a delightful piece of sand that does not require you to make a full day of it. If you walk south past the main beach you can find slivers of sand for more private sunbathing and swimming, and this is where you’ll encounter cute shorebirds and find shells. You can even see Cedar Island from here.
Keep going, and you can begin the Osprey Observation Walk, ten platforms created by the Clinton Land Trust. Two of these are in the Hammock River salt marsh, east of and viewable from the town beach. Meander along the footpaths with your binoculars or camera.
Take a sandy path south and you will eventually come out into a residential neighborhood, where two more osprey platforms are viewable. If you’ve got the time, go find all ten.
When you’ve had your fill of osprey and egret, sandpipers and monarch butterflies, dragonflies and crabs, take a look around at what you likely missed while speed-walking to the beach.
Route 1 and Waterside Lane have sidewalks and make for the most direct route between the train station and this little beach. This is also signed as the Clinton Blue/Greenway. It is a way to find nature, but don’t be fooled — that does not mean this is a separated bicycle path.
The Greenway will guide you to the town beach, but also through the Eliot Preserve; if you are driving (why?!) you can park behind Clinton Town Hall while exploring this Clinton Land Trust property which borders the Indian River. It’s 17-acres of meadow with a 1/4-mile loop trail.
Between the Clinton Blue/Greenway and the Osprey Observation Walk, what more could you want? This takes you by The Arsenal — kind of a badass name for a house and one that makes me wonder if I should not put a similar sign on my home, like “Beware Of….” The Arsenal is the oldest house in the Clinton Village Historic District, and part of it was originally located on the beach before being moved up the road.
This area — East Main Street, Cemetery Road, Church Road, Old Post Road, Liberty Street, and Waterside Lane — has 150+ historic buildings and accoutrement to view while meandering. Clinton Cemetery, Liberty Green, and Waterside Green fall within this area, and it’s worth popping your earbuds in to drown out the car noise on Route 1 while having a look around.
Always look (from the sidewalk) down the driveways, up on the roofs, along the paths, and in the backyards. Take note of the row of lavender encroaching on the sidewalk, how when you brush against it the air is scented.
My favorite thing about certain seaside villages is how many of the yards are not monoculture wastelands, but tiny spaces in which the tenants make every square inch count.
My other favorite thing is how people will use color on their homes in a way that you would never in some of the fancy inland suburbs.
Turquoise shutters? A pastel rainbow of lawn chairs? This is New England, dah-ling, but we don’t need all of our homes to be strictly beige and tan, now, do we?
Along Route 1 is where to exorcise, or park, your demons.
And look at antiques.
There are art galleries, a hippie shop, a vintage shop, and some restaurants.
You’ll see more miniature flags than benches, which is fitting. Not letting people get too comfortable in public is the American way.
If you’ve been wondering how reach the historic and interesting parts of any town, one way that almost never fails is to arrive by train, since most train stations were established back before the sprawl began.
What have we learned today?
Does Clinton get a seal of approval?
Looks like it already has one.
Getting there: Get off at the Shore Line East Clinton Station. Walk for about one minute to reach Route 1.
[Apologies for low quality of photos, but I’m blaming this on public transit because had Amtrak not been ten million years late getting to Hartford, I would’ve made it to the shore before the light was super harsh.]
As of 2022, the free Clinton Trolley runs Thursday and Friday, 4 PM to 9 PM; Saturday, 12-9 PM; and Sunday, 12-6 PM. It will operate on Labor Day.
The 641 and 645 bus also goes near the train station. There’s also Dial-A-Ride — which is $3.50 and open to anyone, so long as you’re seeking a ride Monday-Friday from 6 AM – 6 PM and make the reservation a day in advance.
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