Fairfield hugs the north shore of Long Island Sound in eastern Connecticut. Its location and climate make it an ideal place to be for anyone who enjoys outdoor recreation, especially anything related to the beach. The town has five beaches stretched out over five miles of coastline, and 170 acres of parks offering residents and visitors a chance to explore and enjoy the outdoors.
Fairfield beaches are free and open to the public. Beach season opens the Saturday prior to Memorial Day and runs through Labor Day. Parking during this time is reserved for those who have purchased a beach sticker. Daily fees are collected at the lot, or visitors may purchase a sticker at the Recreation Office on Mill Plain Road. Access to Sasco, South Pine Creek and Southport beaches is restricted to residents with a parking sticker during beach season.
Jennings Beach is family-friendly and occupies 27 acres of beach property in the extreme northeast corner of the state. Recreational facilities appropriate for all ages include sailboat storage racks, boat launches, poles for volleyball nets, a skate park and a playground just across the parking lot. Restroom facilities and food concessions are also available. This is the only beach where you may build bonfires with prior approval from the fire marshal.
Penfield Beach is south of Jennings Beach. It is much smaller, with just 3.5 acres of sandy beach, but is equipped with sailboat racks, swing sets and restroom facilities. Guests may purchase food at the concession or bring their own and make use of the charcoal grills and picnic tables for an afternoon beach barbecue.
Fairfield has a half dozen large town parks and several smaller neighborhood parks, most of them with playground equipment and picnic tables. Veterans Park, Owen Fish and Gould Manor have designated picnic areas that you may reserve, with preference given to town residents. These three parks feature athletic fields and tennis courts available for reservation. Veterans Park is also equipped with facilities to play bocce and volleyball.
Use of the two Jennings Beach parks, Skate Park and Henry Rowland Park, is free. Visitors need a beach sticker to access the parking lot at Jennings Beach during the summer beach season.
The Skate Park is between Jennings Beach and the South Benson Marina; there is only one other of its kind in the county. The park opened in November 2009 and was designed for skateboarders 10 years and older. It incorporates all the most popular elements, including a quarter pipe, a wave sidewalk and camel humps.
Henry Rowland Park is known for the Sandcastle Playground and is just off the parking lot. This massive play structure is laid out like a castle, with turrets, ladders, sun canopies, swings and rings. Shade trees surround the structure, and picnic tables are set up and available for use on a first come, first served basis.
