SOMERSET — The gate at Pierce Beach is open more often, the basketball hoops at regionally famous Pottersville Playground remain in storage, youth sports league teams may practice on town fields with a permit, and on-site registration for summer camps has started as the town joins in Phase 2 of the the state's reopening.
Pierce Beach's gate opening time now includes weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., though there will be no lifeguards on duty and no bathroom facilities available during these times. The town had already fully opened (lifeguards, bathrooms) the beach for Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The full seven-day open beach schedule will start on June 19, Barry Fontaine, town recreation director, said.
There is no charge for weekday beach parking prior to June 19.
Pierce Beach season parking passes ($50 town residents; $100 non-residents) are available for purchase at the Recreation Department office at town hall. Day passes, purchased at the Pierce Beach gate, cost $10. Fontaine said anyone purchasing day passes can use those receipt stubs as a credit toward purchasing a season pass. Town residents who are military veterans may secure a beach permit at no charge.
State Phase 2 rules allow youth sports teams to practice but not yet play games. Fontaine stressed that leagues must secure permits from the town for field usage and league/team supervisors must make sure spacing, grouping and cleaning rules spelled out by the state are enforced.
Concerns about congregating, Fontaine said, have prompted the town to not yet re-install the baskets at popular the lighted Pottersville courts. He said the re-opening will likely be done incrementally, one court at a time. Town playgrounds are open.
The town youth summer camps will be held at O'Neill Field on Brayton Point Road. Registration is being held at O'Neill weekdays from 2 to 5 p.m. until the start of camps on July 6. Camp information was expected to be posted on the town website later in the day, Fontaine said on Wednesday morning.
Email Greg Sullivan at gsullivan@heraldnews.com. Follow him @GregSullivanHN.