Commissioners look to successful season for Tri-Town Beach in Whately, opening June 3

By CHRIS LARABEE

Staff Writer

Published: 05-30-2023 2:57 PM

WHATELY — Tri-Town Beach commissioners are expecting a season of more summer camps, more programs and more fundraising in 2023.

After a successful 2022 season, the beach is slated to open on Saturday, June 3, at 10 a.m., with season and day passes available at the gate. Deerfield representative Patty Pirog said she and her fellow commissioners are looking forward to an even more successful season this year.

“Last year was an amazing year. For being our first year coming back, we exceeded anything we had for expectations, participation and use of the beach,” Pirog said. “We are hopeful this year will exceed last year.”

Season passes can be purchased with cash or check and cost $50 for Deerfield and Whately residents and $100 for Conway, Hatfield and Sunderland residents. Day passes are available for residents of those five towns for $20. No senior passes are being offered.

The beach is open, dependent on weather, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. each day through Labor Day, with lifeguards on site from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the beach is swim at your own risk.

Swimmers will have access to new paddle boards and kayaks. The beach is also bringing back Deerfield swim lessons for $20 a week, with six sessions planned over the course of the summer.

Among the most notable changes for the upcoming season are the treatment of weeds in the water and the retirement of the wooden floating dock.

Weeds have long been an issue at the beach and were a primary focus of the commissioners last year. Pirog said the Whately Conservation Commission approved a remediation plan for the vegetation and the commissioners are working on final permits to begin the annual treatments within the next month.

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As for the wooden dock, which is 5 years old, Pirog said they are having it removed because it is a safety and environmental hazard as its condition deteriorates. Instead of replacing it with another wooden one, the commissioners are looking into getting an EZ Dock, a plastic alternative that can be purchased in sections that connect to one another. Another option is a standard metal dock.

Either choice, however, is expensive. The Tri-Town Beach Commission is directing its fundraising efforts toward replacing the dock.

“After looking at everything — and with the cost involved — another wooden one is going to put us back to where we’re at,” Pirog said. “We want to make a positive change.”

Fundraising efforts are coming in the form of soliciting businesses and asking them for their support. Pirog said they’re trying to avoid asking residents because Deerfield and Whately have been “very generous” with the beach’s budget.

Pirog said their first donation has come from the South Deerfield Polish American Club. She also thanked Galenski Farms and Galenski Landscaping, as well as Jankowski Plumbing & Heating for donating their services.

Additional information about Tri-Town Beach, including closure announcements, can be found at facebook.com/tritownbeach.

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