Long Beach

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Credit: Scott Tucker/Expedition New England

Long Beach in Stratford is part of the longest stretch of barrier beach in Connecticut. Its sand dunes, tidal wetlands, and sand flats supports over 270 species of birds, including the endangered piping plover, making this site one of the premier birding areas in New England. A summer cottage development had been built on the property but when the access bridge was destroyed by fire in the mid-90s, the homes were abandoned and the area became a public safety hazard. The Trust for Public Land worked with our partners for over two years removing the structures, hazardous materials, and trash from the site. The cleanup was completed in April 2011 and the town of Stratford maintains this pristine shoreline in the backyard of the state’s biggest city.

Visit

Long Beach is accessible by car and is located at the end of Oak Bluff Road in the Lordship section of Stratford. A parking permit required from May 31 until Labor Day.
Map

The eastern end of Long Beach is designated as a public beach area for swimming, sailboarding, and fishing. The middle sections of Long Beach are maintained for shorebird nesting habitat.