While some local beaches and pools are opening, others are closing

SWANSEA — Town Administrator Mallory Aronstein, in conjunction with the Swansea Beach Committee and Board of Selectmen, announces that Swansea Town Beach will be opening for the 2022 season on Saturday, June 18.

“We are pleased to announce that the Swansea Town Beach will once again be opening to the public for recreational use this weekend,” Town Administrator Aronstein said. “Ahead of the season, we would like to remind residents of some housekeeping and regulations to ensure all facilities are properly used and maintained.”

Beginning on Saturday, June 18, those visiting Swansea Town Beach will be required to pay parking fees for the 2022 season.

Seasonal and daily passes are available at the entrance for purchase. Visitors must present their license and registration when purchasing a pass. To purchase a pass at the resident’s discounted rate, licenses must verify the driver is a Swansea resident and registration must have a Swansea address. An attendant will then place a sticker on the rear driver’s side window. These passes are non-transferable.

Parking passes and their fees are as follows:

Resident Seasonal Passes: $15
Non- Resident Seasonal Passes: $35
Day Passes on Weekdays (residents and non-residents): $5
Day Passes on Weekends/Holidays (residents and non-residents): $8

The fees listed above are also collected for parking at the paved area adjacent to the beach house for those seeking to use the grass area, playground or restroom facilities.

Gates to the parking areas open at 9 a.m. and an attendant will be on duty until 4 p.m., weather permitting. The gate closes at dusk. Any vehicles on the beach parking area at closing are subject to tagging and/or towing at the owner’s expense.

The driving of any unauthorized private vehicles on the beach or any other areas not
identified as “parking area” is strictly prohibited. Those who do so will be subjected to a $100 fine.

Additional Information:
The Swansea Beach Committee is pleased to announce that Katherine Neuman has been hired as the Beach Manager for the 2022 season. She is a Certified Life Guard and an experienced aquatics director.

Swansea officials ask community members to do their part in keeping the beach and its facilities clean by not leaving any trash behind.

Additional information on rules and regulations include the following:

-Lifeguards will be on duty daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting.

-Beach House facilities, including the rinse station, will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., weather permitting.

-An accessible portable restroom is located at Ramp #3 adjacent to the reserved accessibly parking at the entrance to the ramp.

-No person shall swim within 100 yards of the boat ramp on the northerly side of the peninsula.

-Rowdy groups will be asked to move or leave the area. After the beach is closed, groups will not be allowed to congregate on the beach, in the lots, or on the roadways unless authorized by the Selectmen.

-Animals (with the exception of service animals) are strictly prohibited from all beach areas. Violators will be fined $25 for the first offense, $50 for the second and $100 thereafter.

-All fires, including fires/grilling and barbecue equipment, are strictly prohibited.

-There will be no drinking of alcoholic beverages in or out of vehicles on the beach, in the roadways, or in the parking areas, including the boat launch area.

As a reminder, the Town of Swansea will not be responsible or liable for stolen property, loss of goods, or any act of vandalism to property or injury to persons.

With Swansea Town Beach opening soon, so is a pool in Fall River.

The Veterans Memorial Pool at 339 Eastern Ave in Fall River is scheduled to open on June 25th and close August 21st. Pool hours are from 11:15 a.m. to–6:45 p.m. seven days a week.

Horseneck Beach is already open from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. The daily parking fee charged through October 30 is $13 for MA residents and $40 for non-MA residents. Beach services, including lifeguard services and public restrooms, are available until Labor Day (weekends only through 6/18).

The Fall River splash pads are typically open around July 1st.

The Freetown State Forest spray deck is already open from 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. until September 18th.

With several spots to cool off already open or soon to open, two are recommended to be closed.

As of Wednesday, the Rhode Island Department of Health recommends closing Fogland Beach in Tiverton and Gooseberry Beach in Newport for swimming because of high bacteria levels (RIDOH since rescinded Gooseberry Thursday morning).