Cars Allowed Again In East Rock Park — On Sundays

The experience in the park was the best it has ever been while people were not allowed to drive up in their cars. It was cleaner, quieter, and in far more use by families and kids. I am there regularly and never failed to see groups if people enjoying themselves on the road and at the summit. Now we can all look forward to more close calls, more noise, and more trash and litter.

If you put in speed humps and trash barrels along the summit road, and close it from dusk to dawn, then you can reduce the vehicles speed and trash issues. Disabled and elderly should not lose access to the park just because some people don’t know how to drive in a park or how to dispose of their trash. If the city sets up license plate reading cameras for the most common illegal dumping locations along the road, they could catch and heavily fine illegal dumpers, who are usually contractors or landlords.

I swore to myself I would never comment on the NHI and even told a few reporters as much over the years. I’ve held true to this promise to myself up until this point. This article (believe it or not) was the one that moved me to action.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Like others I too enjoyed East Rock park both before and after the roads were shut. But that hasn’t been the case for my father and many many others.

My father- known to many as DW Ditty- absolutely loves going to the summit of East Rock and playing his guitar. He would stay and watch the sunset, point out various birds, jam with his friends, take many photos and make many memories. He hasn’t been able to do that in years now and he misses it dearly.

We recently tried ti walk up the shut road to the summit. Unfortunately we did not make it to the top and had to turn around. As a Vietnam Vet with various aliments, his body couldn’t quiet make it.

East Rock does not exist solely for the able bodied nor should it. I was honestly surprised when it closed- shutting down access to so many seemed cruel during a time when we should have been looking out for all- especially the vulnerable- who may have wanted to enjoy East Rock.

I fully understand the illegal dumping issue but closing an entire road seems an extreme and frankly a lazy solution. As for a scenic place to run? Everyone still can- and still can within East Rock Park- on the actual trails.

I hope after this “experiment”, it opens 7 days a week. Not everyone has years left to wait.

@Paul please update readers as to when this is on an Alder agenda in the future or other ways for community members to have our voice heard.

Now let us try the reverse experiment in the downtown - prohibit cars on the streets around the green and one block further out on Sundays, maybe even some long inter-neighborhood roads as well like Chapel St or Grand Ave. Let people enjoy their community streets for one day a week without the threat of cars.

I would love to see the park open more to cars. I often have out of town guests who want to see the view of New Haven and not all of them can take the hike or, have the time to. With decent parking lots, regular police patrols, speed humps, create a biking/walking path, open maybe 10-4 or limited times a day, etc. all may be some of the options to make it possible once again.

As a disabled person with limited mobility, I'm glad, after more than two years, I can enjoy a ride up to the top of East Rock Park to relax and enjoy the view! Unfortunately and unfairly this access has been relegated to only one day a week. Perhaps the city can have parks department employees bring folks like myself up to the top in golf carts or vans a couple days a week, while still keeping the park's roads closed to other vehicles?

It's extremely discriminatory to be excluded from a public park just because you're disabled. The city also has limited, if any, designated handicap "reserved" parking spaces on the downtown streets. To add insult to injury, streets are now being closed to traffic, further limiting accessibility. I used to frequent restaurants and shops on lower Orange Street, but have not since the street was closed and limited my ability to easily park and access these businesses.

New Haven preaches inclusion for all, but practices exclusion for some. Perhaps it's time for legal action to be taken, so all can have equal access to public spaces.

Not much of an "experiment" if it's basically just reverting back to how things were before, no? I think some people need to get over the idea of closing downtown streets to vehicular traffic, unless you're totally in favor of screwing over businesses, making the parking and traffic looking for parking even worse on all the side streets, and want to send the message "Don't bother coming here." It's downtown in a city. Cars come with the territory. If you're a pedestrian, I suggest looking both ways before stepping into the road.

Public Spaces are for the PUBLIC. Period. End of Discussion.....

I very much sympathize with your post, Melody..... I have been to an occasional DW DITTY get together on top of the rock! People with disabilities need the ability to enjoy this City Park without hindrance.... doesn't this 'policy' violate the American's with Disabilities Act....? Sounds like a class action suit brewing!!!

Anybody who can legally park in a Handicapped Parking Space, should be able to drive to the top of East Rock, any day, any time during park hours.. Anybody transporting 'elders' should have unencumbered access as well.... but let's face it, the only way to really do this, is to have open for ALL.... The other option is to sell it off, and privatize access.....but that IS NOT happening....

The privileged bike crowd needs to cool it!

This is a place for everybody -- if there are problems with dumping, excess noise....etc... deal with those issues directly -- don't use 'the bad behaviour' of the few to justify exclusive access to the park.... that is just privilege and arrogance at work!

Very disappointing!!!!!!
Some of you should know better!!!!!

First he sells Kensington Park for a $1.00, now this!!

He's basically telling people who aren't from East Rock, "to get off my lawn".

@Melody ...Seems the Mayor made the decision unilaterally. I don't recall seeing it on any agenda.

Apologies for the multiple posts.

Dear Mr. Mayor..

If you're going to use speeding and dumping as reasons to shut down public space, then you should shut down the entire city. Oh, my bad. I forgot you already did that for 2 years during COVID.

Closing the park to the majority tax-paying & car-driving population that uses cars reveals the ridiculous nature of the woke mentality, who seek to make meaningless statements and posings to look like they have answers. No one has given up their cars. East Rock is quite a hike for a person who wants a quick trip to the summit for the beautiful views. Even though it is always fun to exclude and punish others while not really doing anything to change the situation, another way must be found, like Bill says to control the few who spoil the park without punishing us all.
And Will.Moses' idea to close downtown to cars at selected times is a great way to encourage people to come out, be safer, and enjoy a nice walk without cars and bikes roaring around. European cities do this regularly and so can we!!

I can’t help but draw parallels between the infamous “wall” that was finally taken down between NHV and Hamden, mentioned here on the NHI in an article from May 4, 2014, and the closing of the road meandering from the NHV side to the Hamden side of the park. Anyone else agree? Growing up here, my mother would purposely take that road telling us it was where Snuffleupagus lived as we peered out our windows looking for him. That road is magical in a sense and captures the childhood wonder of every city kid who gets (got) to drive through it. We need a better solution to illegal dumping.

The roads were shut to cars during a portion of the pandemic when trails everywhere were clogged with folks. Closing it then served a purpose (although at the expense of the elderly and disabled- some of the most vulnerable during that time) and that reason is no longer valid or necessary. The time to open it back up has come if not because we are no longer quarantined but because it is the right thing to do.

@BillSaunders1 and @Concerned4NewHaven I agree- many of my good friends are in that “bike crowd”. The bike crowd was served well with this closing but they are a very small portion of folks who utilize the park as you eluded to. How about instead of open to cars for one day a week it was shut to cars one day a week and open for 6?
Additionally, those that I see in the park the most are like me, living in apartments with little to no green space. Most do not live in homes walking distance to the Hamden side. Isn’t only fair to give everyone back their rightful access?

@Dennis - thank you for the clarification

@CityYankee2 - I am one who would be considered to be of the “woke” folk you write of as you know. And yet here I am advocating for the park to be open. I believe this to be an issue folks can come together on, no?

Bottomline- I look forward to this change and to continuing to advocate for access for all. Ableism and Ageism have no place in ER park.

I have LOVED the safety of walking and biking up East Rock the last 2 years w/o the cars and other menacing drivers (dirt bikes), but it's clearly not fair to the disabled. The real problem: the city can't enforce the laws to begin with. They can't seem to enforce the laws on major streets where drivers are driving recklessly - all the time - staring at their phones while driving, speeding, not driving safely in general. (The areas where police should be most alert and effective). We need the police to start enforcing and ticketing, but they seem to have completely backed off the last few years. Seems that staffing an effective patrol on the Rock might also be a real problem. If people would exhibit their personal responsibility (regarding littering/dumping, and the way they drive), we wouldn't be in this situation. Alas, some people will never learn.

The change is too little, too late and too limited, continuing a disgusting policy of discrimination cloaked as a covid prevention initiative which it never was. It became a private enclave for BFFs of Elicker. Just open the damn park and stop with these quarter measures with an implied threat it could all go away if somebody misbehaves. All the parks should be available for all the people, all the time - including the soccer fields on Ella Grasso. Elicker's anti-motorist stand is hurting New Haven. I may live here but I rarely go downtown because travel is such a pain.

A park belongs to the people. The City is a care taker or trustee and is responsible for preserving such spaces.
Bill Saunders got it right in his comments.
Years ago I could hike to the top, but that is no longer true. So yesterday I drove with a friend and re-discovered the awesome panorama that rewards visitors.
The speed limit is 15 mph. I did see a car w/ NY plates going a wee bit fast.
As for the trash, if you are walking, take a disposable bag and pick up what you see.
We all need access to nature and to public spaces. This small trip was totally delightful.
The park belongs to the people.
I think we can find a way to share.

It certainly does seem that a more equitable solution is required as suggested by many here. Coupled with Curator's comments on NHI's "Alders Accelerate "Safe Routes" Plan", it woud seem that the City needs to take seriously access and equity issues for people with disabilities and older adults.

First--I have family and friends with mobility impairments and I do not take the concerns of people with physical disabilities lightly. That said, there's nothing ableist or ageist about car-free spaces. In general, the contrary is true: spaces devoted almost entirely to the convenience of people driving are far more ableist and ageist, given the number of people who are either too young or too old to drive, or whose physical limitations prevent them from driving, or whose economic situation means they do not have ready access to a car. In general, the solution to the very real problem of equitable access is not more access for drivers. Just look at downtown streets for an example of how the car-centric built environment prevents people from participating fully in public life.

Second--the idea that the 'bike crowd' is somehow 'privileged' is laughable.

Third--the park has not been 'closed.' It's been open continuously. It's the activity of driving that has been prohibited, much like smoking is prohibited in most public buildings.

Finally--"we can find a way to share." It's as simple as people who are walking remembering to bring disposable bags so they can pick up the trash thrown out of car windows by the drivers who are "going a wee bit" over the park speed limits of 15 miles per hour.

Oops, one more thing: I think this: <blockquote>Perhaps the city can have parks department employees bring folks like myself up to the top in golf carts or vans a couple days a week, while still keeping the park's roads closed to other vehicles?</blockquote>
is a fantastic idea.

William Kurtz,

In the absence of any real 'solution' that addresses this issue, this limitted access policy is indeed both able-ist and age-ist.... however you want to 'spin' it....

While 'golf carts' might seem like a laughable idea, how about an eco-friendly shuttle service... park at the bottom -- ride to the top....

Maybe we shouldn't have sold off those Destefano Era Electric Trolleys.....

PS William Kurtz,

The fact that you are claiming sensitivity to age-ism and able-ism, while simultaneously 'dismissing' those concern in support of 'car free spaces', only reinforces my claim of 'privilege' within the bike community......

WK,

One last note -- 'generalizations' are never a good substitute for real policy making....
Some 'car free spaces' do indeed meet the 'selling points' you have proffered.....

But the reality on the ground is simple -- East Rock Park requires some form of 'transportation access' to the top' if it is to be enjoyed by all....

More than a year ago I followed a FOIA request asking the city to share the Parks Department schedule for cleaning and maintaining the parks. I wanted to understand the equity around caring for the parks. The City never released the data

Bill Saunders is right - the cycling crowd is definitely privileged. The irony here is that the Elicker administration has slashed traffic enforcement by 60%, while auto accidents involving pedestrian and cyclists seem to be a regular occurrence.

Patricia -

With the exception of the hairpin turn, I guarantee cyclists routinely break the 15mph speed limit during descent.....

Where are all the privileged cyclists the commenters keep mentioning? I am a cyclist who participates in and sometimes organizes a weekly slow ride to the top of East Rock. I welcome the efforts to open the park to all. While I have appreciated closing it off to cars, it has never sat right with me that it limits access to others who could not otherwise make the trip. This policy is a start, but it's also true that the park is vastly safer, cleaner, and all around better without cars. As others have begun to ideate, maybe there are better solutions that retain access for disabled or elderly, while preserving the safety and tranquility of the park.

As to the 'privileged' bike comments – when it comes to transit, no one is more privileged than automobile drivers, and it's painful to witness it on display in how every single aspect of mobility is taken for granted as if it must prioritize them. Driving and parking are not rights. Pedestrians, cyclists and other 'micro-mobility' users, and public transit users SHOULD be prioritized. I am happy to see East Rock opened because I care about accessibility. This is a rare case where vehicular access increases accessibility, but all in all limited car access and prioritizing human scale transit is by far the more accessible approach. So, to all of those concerned about accessibility but complaining of privileged cyclists at East Rock, will you champion accessibility on our downtown roads to limit car traffic and create a safer environment for all? Or will you continue to hold back our city from accessible, safe development for all to protect the privileged status of cars?

WV,
The biking/pedestrian infrastructure in the City sucks..... and cars are indeed a menace.. I wouldn't label it as 'privilege'. But a single, slow speed limit road in a public park should not be the 'political stalking horse' for this dream of a car free world.....