Republicans slam park closing as Obama visits Conn.

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Republicans criticized the closing of Sherwood Island State Park in Westport as President Obama attends fundraisers in Connecticut for his re-election campaign.

Obama is scheduled on to appear Monday at a $500 per person reception at the Stamford Marriott and a $35,800 per person dinner at the Westport home of movie producer Harvey Weinstein.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection says Sherwood will be closed to the public on Monday "due to a special event." A DEEP spokeswoman, Cindy Chanaca, referred questions on why Sherwood was closed to the White House, where a message was left.

"It is the arrogance of power and crass partisanship to shut down Sherwood Isle at the height of the summer vacation season and dislodge all these families," House Minority Leader Lawrence Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, said in a statement. "It is outrageous that the Democrats turn Sherwood Isle into a personal heliport for the president so that he can be ferried back and forth to hobnob with millionaires and billionaires for the day."

Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Jerry Labriola, Jr. said the closure came on a day when temperatures climbed in the 90s.

"And while 50 guests pay $35,800 per person to hobnob with President Obama and movie celebrities and Governor Malloy at Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein's six-acre beachfront estate in Westport, area families and their children will not be able to go to the beach today because the President's helicopter is parked there," Labriola said in a statement.

Obama's campaign referred comment to the Secret Service, which says it works hard with state and local authorities to minimize the public impact and to make any necessary closures and inconveniences as brief as possible.

"It's a huge honor to have the president in the state," said Elizabeth Larkin, spokeswoman for the Connecticut Democratic Party. "It is unfortunate that it's inconveniencing some people in the Fairfield County area. There are always inconveniences though whenever a president visits due to security measures."