Hot weather pushes parks to capacity

MADISON, Conn. (WTNH) -- With hot weather continuing, State Parks across Connecticut are filling up to capacity. 

For a group from Glastonbury, getting there early means a prime spot on the sand.

"We wanted to get a good spot on the beach and we didnt want to hit traffic and we have a lot of people coming," said Allyson Pineault of Glastonbury, "so we needed a good huge space."

Hammonassett estimates 25,000 vistors per day come to the park during a sunny, hot holiday week.

Some other reasons why people might want to show up early? "We want to have a fmaily reunion and we wanted to get some tables," Isabel Bracamante from Harford explained.

"The Fourth of July is like a typical holiday, espeically with the way the weather is for the beach," said Henry Alves, Park Supervisory, "we are going to be very busy."

The campground was at capacity on Sunday. Spots sold out last year, so it's camper to camper tent to tent, but no one seems to be complaining.

"There is all kinds of people all kinds of parties," said Wayne Bizier of Bristol. "It's just nice to get away and it's better than being home,"

Once the sun goes down and the crowd clears out crews clean up, grooming two and half miles of sand because thousands will be back on the beach tomorrow.