Parks & Recreation Commission

Chester Parks and Recreation

Celebrating Community through People, Parks and Programs!

e-mail parkrec@chesterct.org or call 526-0013, extension 223

Office Hours: Memorial Day through Labor Day by Appointment, Labor Day through Memorial Day Monday through Friday 9:45am-noon and Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 3:00-5:15pm

2018/19 Fall/Winter Brochure

FALL/WINTER 2018/2019 YOUTH & ADULT PROGRAMS

YOUTH FLAG FOOTBALL: grades 3 through 6, 3:15-4:15pm directly following school dismissal on Fridays, September 28, October 5, 12 PLUS a BONUS Wednesday on October 10 at Chester Elementary School. $10 with Camp Director Tyler Saunders and the Parks and Recreation Camp Staff Flag Football registration, 2018 Flag Football poster

YOUTH FIELD HOCKEY CLINIC: grades 2 through 8, 5:00-6:15pm on Wednesdays, September 26, October 3, 10 PLUS a BONUS Friday on October 5 at Chester Elementary School. $10, $15 per family with Valley Regional High School Coaches Beth Powers, Randy Netsch and the high school team players Field Hockey Clinic registration, 2018 Field Hockey Clinic poster

KARATE: ages 5 through 15, 5:00-6:00pm on Mondays, session 1 = September 10, 17, 24, October 1, 8; session 2 = October 15, 22, 29, November 19, 26; session 3 = December 3, 10, 17, January 7, 14; session 4 = January 28, February 4, 11, 25, March 4; session 5 = March 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8; session 6 = April 29, May 6, 13, 20, June 3 at the Chester Town Hall Community Room. $45 per session payable to the instructor Tammy Marino Karate registration, Karate poster

YOGA: all levels welcome, 5:45-6:45pm on Tuesdays, beginning September 11 through May 21 at the Chester Town Hall Community Room. attend any class for $10 per class payable to the instructor Annette Babek Yoga registration, Yoga poster

BALLROOM DANCING: 6:30-7:30pm on Mondays, November and December DATES TO BE DETERMINED at the Chester Meeting House. fee payable to the instructor Karen Pfrommer

INTRODUCTION TO MARTIAL ARTS FITNESS: adults and teens, Mondays, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 from 6:00pm until 7:00pm in the Chester Town Hall Community Room. Instructor, Tammy Marino is a 6^th Degree Black Belt in Shobayashi Shorin-Ryu Karate, training in the Martial Arts since 1973. The course includes basic Karate techniques, self-defense awareness, conditioning exercises, non-contact kick boxing skills, target and air shield drills. $45 per session payable to the instructor Tammy Marino Karate for Adults registration , Karate for Adults poster

AMERICAN RED CROSS CPR/AED/FIRST AID: ages 11 through adults, CPR/AED on Wednesday, October 10, 5:30-8:00pm and/or First Aid Friday, October 12, 5:30-8:00pm OR both classes in one day on Friday, January 18, 12:45-5:30pm at the Chester Town Hall Community Room. $35 for one class, $45 for both classes CPR-AED-First Aid registration, CPR-AED-First Aid poster

COUNSELOR-IN-TRAINING: grades 7 & 8, 2:45-5:00pm on January 9, 11, 16 and 12:45-5:30pm on January 18, in the Chester Town Hall Community Room. $95 includes 8 days of Summer Camp with Waterfront Supervisors and Camp Directors Tyler Saunders and Katie Amara CIT registration, CIT poster

AMERICAN RED CROSS BABYSITTER’S TRAINING: grade 5 through age 15, 8:45am-3:45pm on Friday, March 8 at the Chester Town Hall Community Room. $45 Babysitter’s Training registration, Babysitter Training poster

ADULT RECREATIONAL BASKETBALL: ages 16 through adults, 7:00-9:30pm on Thursdays, beginning November 1 through March 7 excluding school vacation days and school weather cancellations, at Chester Elementary School. $10 Chester residents, $15 non-residents Adult Recreational Basketball registration

ROOKIE BASKETBALL CLINIC: grades k & 1, 3:15-4:15pm directly following school dismissal on Fridays, January 25, February 1, 22 and following the early dismissal 1:00-2:15pm on February 15 at Chester Elementary School. Snow day make-up is 2:15-3:15pm on February 15. $20 with our certified Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Coaches and Camp Directors Rookie Basketball Clinic registration

YOUTH BASKETBALL: grades 2 through 6, November 12 through March 1 with times and days of the week posted as adults volunteer to coach, at Chester Elementary School. $50 with volunteers who participate in Coaches Orientation and First Aid training Application to Coach of Referee Youth Basketball, Youth Basketball registration

MARCH MADNESS FOR GRADES K THROUGH 6 BASKETBALL PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR PARENTS WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY, MARCH 1, BEGINNING AT 5:30PM!

LACROSSE CLINICS: grades 2 through 8, look for the schedule after the high school game schedules have been posted, at Chester Elementary School.

SUMMER CAMP OPEN TO RESIDENTS OF ALL AREA TOWNS!

TENTATIVE 2019 WEEKLY SCHEDULE :

June 24: grades 4 through 7

July 8: grades k through 6

July 15: grades 1 through 6

July 22: grades k through 6

July 29: grades 1 through 6

August 5: grades 1 through 7

August 12: grades 1 through 6

MAKE A SPLASH NEXT SUMMER!

Morning Laughter at Cedar Lake

We are an outdoor program specializing in waterfront activities!

Our Camp Counselors are Certified Lifeguards.

NATURE & ART on Mondays, SWIMMING, WATER SAFETY & TEAM CHALLENGES on Tuesdays, SWIMMING, COOPERATION PROJECTS & OUTDOOR COOKING on Wednesdays, SCIENCE & ART on Thursdays, FIELD TRIPS on Fridays, SPORTS, CRAFTS, GAMES, & FUN every day!

Our SUMMER CAMP rivals any camp in the area! We offer swimming, sports, science & nature, arts & crafts, team building, and more, but unlike many camps, children choose most of what they wish to participate in throughout the day from a variety of programmed activities. It is open to children entering grades 1 through 6 and the hours are from 8:15am until 3:45pm, TENTATIVELY the weeks of July 8, July 15, July 22, July 29, August 5, and August 12, at Chester Elementary School on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and severe weather days, and Cedar Lake on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If the camp meets at the school on Tuesday or Wednesday due to weather, Thursday camp will be held at the lake that week. The children take field trips on Fridays. The fee is $tbd per child, per week, and payable at the time of registration.

The week of June 24 is currently scheduled to be a premium week with two field trip days for students entering grades 4 through 7, only. The price has not yet been determined.

The week of July 15 is also open to students entering grade 7.

The weeks of July 22 and August 5 are open to children entering Kindergarten, too! KINDER-CAMP for children ENTERING KINDERGARTEN has staff and programming designed specifically to meet the needs of younger children. Activities include games, sports, crafts, nature, teacher led swimming and story time. The children have their own teachers, lunch time, and activities in their own group running concurrently with our grades 1 through 6 camp, at the same location the weeks of July 22 and August 5.

All Kinder-Camp children and those entering grade 1 participate in swimming lessons the weeks of July 22 and August 5. Campers entering grade 7 have an optional introduction to lifeguarding activity the weeks of June 25 and July 15.

Our camp fee includes all program and field trip expenses, except lunch. Children do not need to be Chester residents to attend.

Pay your Summer Camp bill or donate to the Chester Parks and Recreation Scholarship Fund for local children to attend Summer Camp. Please note: When charging Summer Camp please add $5 per week.

Pay for any program or make a donation with this button. When paying for Summer Camp with a charge card, please add $5 PER WEEK, PER CHILD, to defray our cost for this service.

This is a clue to answer the last North Quarter Park question.

“I SPY CHESTER…….MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE”.

Exercise your body and your mind! Take a walk guided by our map and puzzle sheet. Visit one, or all six locations in one day. They are within walking distance of Main Street. Enjoy the beautiful spring weather and learn about our Town with an activity for all ages.

(If you want the answers you may access them HERE.)

Cedar Lake 2018 Summer Season

Please note that as of July 10, watercraft* will no longer be permitted at Pelletier Park while lifeguards are on duty. For access to Cedar Lake please use alternate launch areas at the Town Beach across from Lakeview Avenue or the State Boat Launch on Bishop Road.

*including – but not limited to – kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, row boats, and inflatables

The Town Beaches on Cedar Lake are scheduled to be open for the 2018 season beginning June 14 through August 19 with scheduled hours from 10:30am until 6:00pm. Hours may vary according to staff availability, training, weather, or special programs. It is the policy of the Chester Park and Recreation Commission that access to the Town parks, including the beaches on Cedar Lake, is by permit only. Vehicles of residents parked at unstaffed parks must display a public access sticker, which is available at the Town Clerk’s Office. Non-residents must display a park pass on their vehicles at unstaffed parks and show their pass and identification when entering a staffed facility. Non-resident passes are currently $65 and valid through June 19 of 2019. They are available at Pelletier Park during operating hours and at the Parks and recreation Office during the off-season. Chester residents may enter staffed facilities by showing a driver’s license, or other proof of residency or taxpayer status with identification. Residents and pass holders may bring up to six people, but must accompany them. All other guests are $3 each. Groups of 10 or more must make reservations in advance by submitting a completed group use application at the bottom of this page, a certificate of insurance to the Town, and pay a group fee.

Cedar Lake

The Town of Chester owns Cedar Lake and maintains two public beaches on its shores. The area of the lake is about 80 acres and is fed by two springs and two inlet streams with outflow into the Pattaconk Brook. The lake is about 60 feet deep in the middle. The Town owns approximately one third of the shore. Another third is owned by Camp Hazen YMCA. The remainder is private residences and State owned property, including a boat launch. Chester’s main beach, on West Main Street, has a 50,000 square foot swimming area that is as deep as 20 feet in one corner during the spring. The park at the shore is named Robert H. Pelletier Park in memory of the Chester resident who was the Head Lifeguard for more than two decades. The area is 0.7 acres and includes seasonal lifeguard coverage, picnic tables, a pavilion, grills, and a food concession. The smaller beach is located on Cedar Lake Road. It is unstaffed and has no designated swimming area. The beaches require patrons to have a permit. Details and prices may be found on the Fee Schedule.

North Quarter Park

North Quarter Park is a 22 acre, multi-use facility, located at the corner of Main Street and Middlesex Avenue. It includes a playground, picnic area, volleyball net, baseball field, and an open field in a wooded setting. The northern section of the park has a well-maintained .5 mile nature trail loop. The end of the trail offers beautiful views of the wildlife and habitat of the Chester Creek. A variety of water fowl, birds, and vegetation can be seen along the trail and in the creek.

Parker’s Point Boat Launch

This .6 acre boat launch facility is located at the end of Parker’s Point Road on the Connecticut River. It offers boat trailer parking and a picnic area with a beautiful view. The shore is a favorite winter eagle viewing location. A permit is required for parking. Details and prices may be found on the Fee Schedule.

Chester Creek Overlook

The overlook is a waterfront spot with a .4 acre deck, seating area, and parking lot on the Chester Creek, just a stone’s throw from the Connecticut River. It is located at the end of Railroad Avenue. The Town dock at the overlook houses marine rescue and law enforcement watercraft.

L’Hommedieu Park

This old mill site is located on Spring Street, along the Pattaconk Brook. It is a peaceful setting with a dam, rushing waters, a picnic table, and views of Mallards, Wood Ducks, Great Blue Heron, and beavers. An historical narrative is posted at the park.

Chester Elementary School Baseball Fields

Three baseball fields are maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department at Chester Elementary School, on Ridge Road. This property was originally donated to the Town in 1928 by Jessie C. Bates, Hilton C. Brooks, and William P. Holden for athletic fields. The fields may be available for group usage by submitting the “Group Application for Unstaffed Park Usage”, below.