Overall, the results of the late summer visits were mixed. Progress reports for each beach are set out below.  Two of the beach operators which developed action plans, Oak Bluffs and Dukes County, made the most progress. Oak Bluffs is on schedule to meet its action plan timelines and is currently closest to full and compliant accessibility. Chilmark is an example of a beach operator in the middle. The town has made its popular town beach fully accessible with only minor tweaks remaining but has more work to do on its other two beaches. 

 

At the other end of the spectrum all five of Edgartown’s beaches remain inaccessible and noncompliant. There was no accessibility work done on three of its beaches, and some work done on one (Bend of the Road). On its fifth, South Beach, despite the opportunity and obligation to improve accessibility during its 2024 restoration project to that beach, overall, the beach remains as inaccessible as it was previously. Aquinnah has also not taken any measures to improve accessibility to its beaches.

 

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Below is a summary of the updates for each town and beach operator. To see more detailed updates for each beach, just click on the beach or town listed below:

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• Aquinnah—A total of 16 recommendations were made across 4 beaches —Lobsterville, Philbin, Red Beach, and Moshup. One was partially accomplished, 14 not accomplished, and one not determined.

 

• Chilmark—A total of 15 recommendation were made across three beaches, Menemsha Town Beach, Lucy Vincent and Squibnocket Beaches. Two recommendations were accomplished both at the Town Beach commendably making that beach accessible (subject to only a few minor fixes), 8 were not accomplished, 4 partially, and one not determined.

 

• Edgartown—A total of 15 recommendations were made across four beaches—Bend of the Road, Gardner Beach, Fuller Beach, and Edgartown Lighthouse Beach.  Regarding South Beach, a progress report was not prepared because around the time or shortly after BRW made its February/March recommendations, Edgartown made significant alterations to the beach entrances as well as other areas due to the erosion and damage from winter storms. While a progress report was not prepared, that did not relieve the town from making the beach accessible. In fact, because the town was making significant alterations to the beach, the Town was under a heightened obligation to make the beach accessible. Moreover, several of the BWR recommendations and the principles underlying them still applied or could have been adapted to the new configuration(s). While some of the town’s alterations included some accessibility features, they did not make one or more entrances accessible, and overall, this beach is no more accessible than it was previously. Instead of a progress report, Associate Commissioner Cohen recommended several alternatives to making the restored beach accessible. See above website link.

 

• Oak Bluffs—Only a total of 8 recommended actions were needed across Inkwell/Pay Beach, North Bluffs Beach, and Marinelli Beach. A number of accessible features were already in place before the BWR initiative or were put in place after Oak Bluffs completed the self-survey and before our recommendations were made. Of the 8 recommendations, 3 were accomplished, 3 are in progress, one was partially accomplished, and one was not.

 

• Tisbury—A total of 16 recommendations were made across three beaches—Owen Park, Owen Little Beach, and Tashmoo Beach. 2 were accomplished, 12 were not, one partially and one other not determined. It should be noted that Tisbury had a number of accessible features in place, many appearing to go back a number of years.  Most of our recommendations were directed to updating, improving upon or extending them.

 

• W. Tisbury—A total of 10 recommendations were made across two breaches, Lambert’s Cove, and Seth Pond.   One was accomplished, one partially so, one in progress and 7 were not.

 

• Dukes County—A total of 6 recommendations were made across two beaches, Sylvia State Beach and Eastville Beach (the responsibilities being shared with Oak Bluffs). Of the 6, 2 have been done, one partially done and 3 not due yet per the County’s action plan.

 

• MV Land Bank—A total of 18 recommendations were made across five beaches—Wilfred Pond, Great Rock Bight Beach, Hillman’s, Chappy Beach and Doug Cove. One has been accomplished, 12 were not, 6 were not due yet per MVLB action plan, and one not determined.

 

• Trustees of the Reservation—A total of 13 recommendations were made primarily focused on Long Point, 2 have been accomplished, 9 have not, 2 not determined. As to TOR’s three other beaches, Cape Pogue, Leland, and Wasque, while most of the recommendations had been discussed over a several months, they were not formalized until December 10, 2024.  There were 7 in all.

 

• Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation operates only one beach that was reviewed, Little Beach in Edgartown. There does not appear to be an accessible route to the beach or even general public access to it either from Town of Edgartown’s Fuller Street beach or from another route. More investigation is needed to determine accessibility/general access, and therefore there is currently no further update.

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