Metropolitan Beaches Commission (MBC) Report Is Released

by Rick Winterson

Friday morning, Carson Beach was pristine and beautiful. The tide was going out, leaving its usual damp rim along the beach as it receded. A group of approximately 30 people had gathered at the Edward J. McCormack Bathhouse. Just before 9 a.m., clouds momentarily obscured a brilliant sun and a very brief shower came down – almost as if Mother Nature wanted to gently remind everyone there that she was looking on.

The occasion: The release of a report entitled “Breaking Barriers: Improving Public Access to the Metropolitan Beaches”.

Seventeen years ago in 2006, the Massachusetts Legislature created the Metropolitan Beaches Commission (the MBC), which is managed by “Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay”. The MBC’s original mission was to take a first-hand, in-depth look at all public beaches in our metropolitan area from Nahant to Nantasket. Today, the MBC has become a permanent legislative commission that makes specific recommendations for improving beaches and shorelines to the Legislature, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (the DCR), and the general public.

Chris Mancini, the Executive Director of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, opened the Carson Beach meeting and mentioned “four years of hard work” devoted to environmental and inclusiveness challenges. He ended by thanking all those involved in the Report. MBC Co-Chair State Senator Brendan Crighton from Lynn then spoke about ongoing efforts that had already resulted in better beaches. He was followed by Brian Arrigo, the newly appointed (on April 24) Commissioner of the DCR. Arrigo is a former Mayor of Revere, and he promised long-term problem solving on our beaches would be a major part of his new responsibilities. MBC Vice Chair State Representative Joan Meschino from Hull emphasized “being sure they (the beaches) are available for everybody”. MBC’s Lead Consultant Bruce Berman gave the final remarks, which dealt with making beaches open, available, and enjoyable for all those with disabilities – a topic most of us rarely think about.

Two years ago, the MBC began seeking ways to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion on all of the beaches within the Metropolitan Region – those situated on shorelines from Nahant to Nantasket, in other words. This goal was made more inclusive by adding people with disabilities and people whose first language is other than English to those who are people of color. The “Breaking Barriers” Report released on Friday morning was the result. The Report lists many specific near-term actions that are to take place within 90 days – before the 2023 summer is over. A report on these actions is required by Labor Day – watch for it. In the longer term, this Report calls for numerous additional actions, including “Friends Groups”, messages that “beaches belong to everyone”, diverse cultural and entertainment events (for both children and adults), multilingual signage, and ramps/floats/ wheelchairs/human assistance for the disabled. In the informal discussion after the Report was released, many ideas arose – pilot programs for shuttles to and from beaches and directions for beach access in many languages are a couple of examples. We have described the Report only briefly here, but you can download your own copy of “Breaking Barriers: Improving Public Access to the Metropolitan Beaches” at https://www.savetheharbor. org/breaking-barriers-report.