The beach is accessible by road or by public transit; Norwalk Transit District provides direct bus service to the park and the East Norwalk Metro-North station is about one mile to the north along Calf Pasture Beach Road, Gregory Boulevard, and East Avenue.

After having conducted retribution raids at New Haven and Fairfield, William Tryon led 2,600 British troops by boat to Norwalk at approximately 5:00 p.m. on July 10, 1779.

[5] Additional buildings and sidewalks were constructed at Calf Pasture in 1935 with funding provided by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration.

Adjacent to Shady Beach is Taylor Farm Park, with a tidal pool and grassy and wooded areas for dogwalking.

[9] Sailboats and kayaks can be rented within the park at the Norwalk Sailing School, which also offers a small craft safety training program.

[11] Boater safety courses are offered at the Dominic Lametta training center at U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 72 at Calf Pasture.