Beach Pond, in Exeter, a popular fresh-water swimming spot, has been closed for the summer by the state Department of Environmental Management. Access to the pond will still be available on the Connecticut side.

The Providence Journal / Gretchen Ertl

EXETER — People hoping to escape the heat this summer by cooling off in the fresh, clear water of Beach Pond, a recreation area that Rhode Island shares with Connecticut, might want to go somewhere else.

Swimming is no longer allowed at the 430-acre Beach Pond Management Area on Route 165 in Exeter.

The state Department of Environmental Management issued a statement Tuesday that explained why the concession building has been torn down and why the parking area and beach are covered with rocks, the ropes on floats that designated the swimming area are gone, as are the lifeguard chairs and portable toilets.

Erosion control, roadway runoff and budget and safety concerns all factored in.

DEM spokeswoman Gail Mastrati said $34,500 from state bond funds was allocated last year to restore vegetation where heavy recreational use has led to erosion. The plants will also filter runoff from Route 165 before it enters the pond.

The dilapidated building had been vandalized and was a safety hazard.

“To invite or allow people to come and recreate, we should be able to provide them a safe and healthy environment,” said Jay Aron, a forestry supervisor for the Arcadia Management Area, which is 14,000 acres of mostly forested land that offers a variety of recreational uses.

“Beach Pond is a small part of our area,” Aron said, “but for three months from Memorial Day to Labor Day it takes 80 percent of our staff.”

Closing Beach Pond to swimming for the summer, Mastrati said, will save $95,660 in staffing costs. The area requires two to three lifeguards, a beach manager and two rangers, she said. “Typically at this location, we have had a lot of difficulty getting lifeguards.”

“Given the tremendous budget implications that DEM and other departments are feeling this year,” Mastrati said, “we really need to take a look at numbers, which facilities are being used by the greatest numbers of patrons. The numbers of people using Beach Pond are among the lowest.”

“It’s unfortunate,” Aron said. “It is a beautiful place. It is a shame that for now, anyway, that particular resource isn’t available.”

The parking lot, which once held 135 to 150 cars, now holds 15 to 20 vehicles without trailers.

Mastrati said people with watercraft that fit on top of their cars would be able to park and launch there.

Larger boats can be launched from the Connecticut side, which has a public boat ramp and parking for about 25 vehicles.

Dennis Schain, spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, said the public boat launch is free and open to the public, no matter what state they’re from. Parking is first come, first served, he said, and it reaches capacity quickly in the summer.

On the Rhode Island side, vehicles with trailers can still park across Route 165 from the former swimming area, but boats can’t get to the rest of the pond from that side of the causeway.

Russ Boothroyd, who moved about 20 years ago to Old Voluntown Road in Exeter, about three miles from the pond, said “the neighbors said to me how great it was to have this little neighborhood beach.” Eventually, he said, “the large crowds came in, and you couldn’t get in. And then you realized you didn’t want to be there.”

Captain James Swanberg, southern district commander for the Rhode Island State Police, observed that “a lot of people from northern Rhode Island go there, which is their right.” Troopers provide traffic control, enforce vehicle regulations and provide a police presence, to “make sure the rules are being abided by.”

Swimmers can still use the freshwater ponds at Lincoln Woods, Burlingame Park in Charlestown and the George Washington Camping Area in Glocester, Mastrati said.

dnaylor@projo.com