Great Hollow Lake: 'To Me, This is Summertime'

Children splashed around in Great Hollow Lake under a sweltering Monday afternoon sun as their mothers worked on their tans. Near the lake pavilion, another parent played tether ball with her daughter.

Cecilia Marciano of Monroe sat in a chair by the shore with sister, Rocio Rivera of Las Vegas by her side. Marciano also came to the park with her two sons, her nieces and nephews.

"We were at the pool yesterday and thought, 'Lets use the lake,'" Marciano said.

Last summer, Marciano said she and her friends would arrive at Great Hollow Lake early and enjoy the beach area before attending Character Nights at the pavilion.

Julie Krog of Greenwich was also at the lake Monday with her two boys, a friend from Monroe and her son. Krog had stayed at her house last fall when her friend mentioned Great Hollow Lake.

"She thought it would be a nice place to take the boys," Krog recalled. "It's nice. The concession stand is here and they take credit cards."

Lake Zoar-In is operating Wolfe Park's concession area for its second season.

Parks & Recreation Dir. Frank Cooper stood under the shade of the pavilion and watched families use the beach. "I think it's a little more lively than last year," he said.

When Cooper was hired by the town last year he said he noticed how the beach area would be closed when E. coli bacteria levels of the lake, which is fed by the Pequonnock River, were too high for swimming.

While the town's intention was to keep people safe in case some tried to go into the water, Cooper said "No Swimming" signs should be sufficient. That way, he said parents can still sit on the beach and their children can play in the sand.

"Why shut them down?" Cooper asked.

Cooper tests the lake's bacteria levels every Monday and gets the results on a Tuesday or Wednesday. So far, he hasn't had to post "No Swimming" signs.

"We haven't had to do that this year," he said. "The water quality has been good."

Great Hollow Lake is open from 9 a.m. until noon. Aside from swimming, the lake is stocked with trout making it a good place for fishing, there is a playground and a volleyball net.

"There's always a little breeze down here," Cooper said. "Even on a day like today."

Free for Residents

Cooper believes one policy change may have led to the increased use of the lake area this year.

Last season, he said memberships were sold as a pool/lake pass. This year, only pool passes are sold, while Monroe residents with a free parking sticker can use the entire lake area free of charge.

Stickers are available at the pool office at Wolfe Park. If a town resident does not have a sticker, Cooper said it costs $5 to enter the lake area. Non-residents pay $10 per visit.

"We're hoping to generate a little more business, which will hopefully generate more revenue for the town," Cooper said.

Last season, he said companies from Trumbull and Fairfield rented the beach area for team building exercises. Cooper said no lifeguards are on duty there normally, however he has some at the lake on days when it attracts large enough crowds.

While promoting what's already there, Cooper also has plans to enhance people's experience at Great Hollow Lake. This year, he will bring in more sand if there is enough money in his budget. He could not find someone to rent kayaks and canoes, but Cooper believes the town could handle renting out paddle boats on its own.
A floating dock kids can jump off of is another idea Cooper mentioned.

'This is Summertime'

Though there is a beach area along the water, Cooper said people are still swimming in a lake.

"It's a muddy bottom," he said. "A lot of folks don't like that feel and it turns them off. But for people who like the beachfront and lake water, as opposed to chemically treated water like the pool, this is for them.

"You're not in a cage like the pool. The kids can play on the playground, then run back in the water. To me, this is summertime."