Beach improvements are underwayWinthrop Beach will soon be getting a fresh infusion of sand, while contractors prepare to put the final touches on the reconstruction of the Nahant Causeway.

The developments are the latest signs of improving conditions at Boston-area public beaches since the Metropolitan Beaches Commission warned in 2007 that they were being neglected, according to preliminary findings of a new report the panel is issuing this spring.

While hailing the investments that have made beaches from Nahant to Nantasket cleaner, more accessible, and more vibrant, the commission cautioned that the gains are at risk of being reversed because of a steady drop in state funding since 2008.

“The goal is to use these beaches as recreational resources, but also as economic engines for the communities, and to do that we need to make additional investments in the beaches,” said Bruce Berman, director of strategy and communications for Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, which manages the commission’s work.

In Winthrop, the state on Jan. 21 contracted with a firm to transport 350,000 cubic yards of sand from an abandoned embankment in Saugus to the northern end of Winthrop Beach.

The sand transport marks the $22.5 million third phase of the project focused on renourishing the highly eroded beach to protect the sea wall and reduce nearby flooding. In addition to adding or moving about 500,000 cubic yards of sand, the work includes rebuilding groins, protective stone structures resembling jetties; sea wall repairs; reconstructing Winthrop Shore Drive; and adding new drainage, lighting, and a beachside sidewalk.

The $18 million Nahant Causeway project involves reconstructing the roadway; new fencing and guard

rails; restoration of the parking lot; beautification; and construction of a new boat ramp.

The roadway work was mostly completed by last fall, but the project stopped when the contractor filed for bankruptcy. Another firm has since taken over and the project is now back on track for completion this spring, according to the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The Metropolitan Beaches Commission was established by the Legislature in 2006 to evaluate the conditions of 14 beaches — including King’s Beach in Lynn, Nahant Beach, Revere Beach, and Winthrop Beach — that are managed by the DCR.

In its 2007 report, the commission said the state was failing to be a good steward of the 15 miles of public waterfront, saying the beaches suffered from poor maintenance — including inadequate trash removal — and a need for capital upgrades.

Last year, the commission reconvened to assess the progress made since the 2007 report. The pending report is the result of that work, which included 10 public hearings.

The improvements called for in the 2007 report were “very basic,” Berman said. “They were about cleaning the beaches and about sand and about raking and picking up the trash, fixing broken bathrooms. The consensus is that most of the challenges we identified in 2007 have been well addressed by DCR.”

As a result of a boost in its budget in 2007 and 2008, the DCR was able to provide the added staffing needed to address the maintenance issues, Berman said. It also began investing in many of the recommended capital projects.

Since the state fiscal crunch began in 2008, the DCR annual funding has declined. Berman said the previous infusion of new funds helped ease the

impact, but beach staffing is now below pre-2007 levels “and that’s put some of the gains we had at risk.”

One of the commission’s key recommendations is that the state reverse that decline in funding, a proposal that Berman said is bolstered by the progress made on the beaches to date.

“When we talk about making government investments in things that really enhance our quality of life and grow our economy, this is a perfect example of that,” said state Senator Thomas M. McGee, a Lynn Democrat who cochairs the commission. “With these investments, we were able to move forward in a really positive way and I think we’ve been able to see the results.”

Other improvements to the four North Shore beaches noted by the commission include the regular removal of algae from Lynn and Nahant beaches; renovations to Ward Bath House at Nahant Beach; the ongoing development of a port terminal in Lynn to host a planned commuter ferry; and significant improvements in trash removal.

The commission also pointed to sidewalk plowing and the creation of parallel parking at Revere Beach, and the growing number of concerts and other community events at the beaches organized by groups such as the Revere Beach Partnership and the Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach.

The commission also detailed challenges ahead. At Lynn and Nahant beaches, it cited issues a lack of vendors at Ward Bath House, and at Revere Beach, the need for improved parking and access, and for strategies “to minimize conflicts between people and federally protected plovers during nesting season,” Berman said.

John Laidler | FEBRUARY 02, 2014

DARREN MCCOLLESTER/GETTY IMAGES

BOSTON — A new report is warning that improvements in the quality of beaches in the metropolitan Boston area in recent years are being threatened by budget and staffing cuts to the state agency overseeing them.

A draft report by the Metropolitan Beaches Commission obtained by The Associated Press is calling for the hiring of more full-time and seasonal employees, from beach managers to workers who help clean the sand.

The report also makes a series of recommendations about ways to improve the seaside experience, including instituting trolley shuttle services to some beaches, allowing kayak rentals and enhancing bicycle and pedestrian connections between beaches.

State Sen. Thomas McGee, co-chairman of the commission, said many of the beaches were in rough shape before the commission issued its first recommendations in 2007. He said the state was able to make real progress, and the investments made a difference.

McGee said it’s important not to let those improvements slip away.

“We need to go from beaches that are good to beaches that are great,” he said. “We heard that loud and clear. If they can go to the beaches and really enjoy them, people understand that we are doing the right thing.”

Bruce Berman of the group Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, which worked with the commission, said staffing levels at the Department of Conservation and Recreation have slipped in recent years as the state faced tighter budgets.

“The bad news is that the gains we made are at risk because of the erosion of DCR’s budget during the recession,” Berman said.

The report warns that “chronic underfunding of DCR as a whole challenges its ability to meet its commitments to public and its mission as an agency” and that an extra

$7 million to $10 million made be needed in annual operating funds to meet those commitments.The report also looked at other ways to improve the beach-going experience.

One long-standing bone of contention has been the question of dogs and dog owners who want to take advantage of the beaches. Berman said the public is split between those who think there should be opportunities for dogs on the beaches all the time and those who think dogs and the problem of dog waste should be banned.

He said one possible solution is the adoption of beach dog parks — areas where dogs would be allowed and where there would be pressure on dog owners to clean up after their pets.

The report also suggested offering more commercial concessions like refreshment stands and kayak rentals on the beaches.

Another source of frustration for some beachgoers are the piping plovers that nest on two of the beaches in Revere and Winthrop, forcing officials to cordon off the nesting areas. Berman said instead of using police caution tape, the areas could be identified in a more appealing way to designate the nests.

“That way it won’t look like a crime scene,” he said.

The report also makes specific recommendations for improvements to each of the dozen or so beaches looked at by the commission.

The Massachusetts Legislature formed Metropolitan Beaches Commission in 2006 to take an in-depth look at beaches that the Department of Conservation and Recreation manages in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

Berman said the commission will accept public comments through March 1 before releasing a final version of the report.

Report: Mass. beaches are imperiled by budget cuts

} Johanna Sultz | June 30, 2013 |

Associated Press | February 1, 2014

Report: Mass. beaches imperiled by budget cutsBOSTON — A new report is warning that improvements in the quality of beaches in the metropolitan Boston area in recent years are being threatened by budget and staffing cuts to the state agency overseeing them.

A draft report by the Metropolitan Beaches Commission obtained by The Associated Press is calling for the hiring of more full-time and seasonal employees, from beach managers to workers who help clean the sand.

The report also makes a series of recommendations about ways to improve the seaside experience, including instituting trolley shuttle services to some beaches, allowing kayak rentals and enhancing bicycle and pedestrian connections between beaches.

State Sen. Thomas McGee, co-chairman of the commission, said many of the beaches were in rough shape before the commission issued its first recommendations in 2007. He said the state was able to make real progress, and the investments made a difference.

McGee said it’s important not to let those improvements slip away. “We need to go from beaches that are good to beaches that are great,” he said. “We heard that loud and clear. If they can go to the beaches and really enjoy them, people understand that we are doing the right thing.” Bruce Berman of the group Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, which worked with the commission, said staffing levels at the Department of Conservation and Recreation have slipped in recent years as the state faced tighter budgets.

“The bad news is that the gains we made are at risk because of the erosion of DCR’s budget during the recession,” Berman said. The report warns that “chronic underfunding of DCR as a whole challenges its ability to meet its commitments to public and its mission as an agency” and that

an extra $7 million to $10 million made be needed in annual operating funds to meet those commitments.

The report also looked at other ways to improve the beach-going experience.

One long-standing bone of contention has been the question of dogs and dog owners who want to take advantage of the beaches. Berman said the public is split between those who think there should be opportunities for dogs on the beaches all the time and those who think dogs and the problem of dog waste should be banned. He said one possible solution is the adoption of beach dog parks — areas where dogs would be allowed and where there would be pressure on dog owners to clean up after their pets.

The report also suggested offering more commercial concessions like refreshment stands and kayak rentals on the beaches. Another source of frustration for some beachgoers are the piping plovers that nest on two of the beaches in Revere and Winthrop, forcing officials to cordon off the nesting areas. Berman said instead of using police caution tape, the areas could be identified in a more appealing way to designate the nests.

“That way it won’t look like a crime scene,” he said.

The report also makes specific recommendations for improvements to each of the dozen or so beaches looked at by the commission. The Massachusetts Legislature formed Metropolitan Beaches Commission in 2006 to take an in-depth look at beaches that the Department of Conservation and Recreation manages in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

Berman said the commission will accept public comments through March 1 before releasing a final version of the report.

Associated Press | FEBRUARY 01, 2014

Mass. beaches imperiled by budget cuts, report says

BOSTON (AP) — A new report is warning that improvements in the quality of beaches in the metropolitan Boston area in recent years are being threatened by budget and staffing cuts to the state agency overseeing them.

A draft report by the Metropolitan Beaches Commission obtained by The Associated Press is calling for the hiring of more full-time and seasonal employees, from beach managers to workers who help clean the sand.

The report also makes a series of recommendations about ways to improve the seaside experience, including instituting trolley shuttle services to some beaches, allowing kayak rentals and enhancing bicycle and pedestrian connections between beaches.

State Sen. Thomas McGee, co-chairman of the commission, said many of the beaches were in rough shape before the commission issued its first recommendations in 2007. He said the state was able to make real progress, and the investments made a difference.

McGee said it’s important not to let those improvements slip away.

‘‘We need to go from beaches that are good to beaches that are great,’’ he said. ‘‘We heard that loud and clear. If they can go to the beaches and really enjoy them, people understand that we are doing the right thing.’’

Bruce Berman of the group Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, which worked with the commission, said staffing levels at the Department of Conservation and Recreation have slipped in recent years as the state faced tighter budgets.

‘‘The bad news is that the gains we made are at risk because of the erosion of DCR’s budget during the recession,’’ Berman said.

The report warns that ‘‘chronic underfunding of DCR as a whole challenges its ability to meet its commitments to public and its mission

as an agency’’ and that an extra $7 million to $10 million made be needed in annual operating funds to meet those commitments.The report also looked at other ways to improve the beach-going experience.

One long-standing bone of contention has been the question of dogs and dog owners who want to take advantage of the beaches. Berman said the public is split between those who think there should be opportunities for dogs on the beaches all the time and those who think dogs and the problem of dog waste should be banned.

He said one possible solution is the adoption of beach dog parks — areas where dogs would be allowed and where there would be pressure on dog owners to clean up after their pets.

The report also suggested offering more commercial concessions like refreshment stands and kayak rentals on the beaches.

Another source of frustration for some beachgoers are the piping plovers that nest on two of the beaches in Revere and Winthrop, forcing officials to cordon off the nesting areas. Berman said instead of using police caution tape, the areas could be identified in a more appealing way to designate the nests.

‘‘That way it won’t look like a crime scene,’’ he said.

The report also makes specific recommendations for improvements to each of the dozen or so beaches looked at by the commission.

The Massachusetts Legislature formed Metropolitan Beaches Commission in 2006 to take an in-depth look at beaches that the Department of Conservation and Recreation manages in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

Berman said the commission will accept public comments through March 1 before releasing a final version of the report.

Steve LeBlanc | FEBRUARY 01, 2014

Massachusetts beaches imperiled by budget cuts, report says

BOSTON (AP) — A new report is warning that improvements in the quality of beaches in the metropolitan Boston area in recent years are being threatened by budget and staffing cuts to the state agency overseeing them.

A draft report by the Metropolitan Beaches Commission obtained by The Associated Press is calling for the hiring of more full-time and seasonal employees, from beach managers to workers who help clean the sand.

The report also makes a series of recommendations about ways to improve the seaside experience, including instituting trolley shuttle services to some beaches, allowing kayak rentals and enhancing bicycle and pedestrian connections between beaches.

State Sen. Thomas McGee, co-chairman of the commission, said many of the beaches were in rough shape before the commission issued its first recommendations in 2007. He said the state was able to make real progress, and the investments made a difference.

McGee said it’s important not to let those improvements slip away.

“We need to go from beaches that are good to beaches that are great,” he said. “We heard that loud and clear. If they can go to the beaches and really enjoy them, people understand that we are doing the right thing.”

Bruce Berman of the group Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, which worked with the commission, said staffing levels at the Department of Conservation and Recreation have slipped in recent years as the state faced tighter budgets.

“The bad news is that the gains we made are at risk because of the ero-sion of DCR’s budget during the recession,” Berman said.

The report warns that “chronic underfunding of DCR as a whole challenges its ability to meet its commitments to public and its mission as an agency” and that an extra $7 million to $10 million made be

needed in annual operating funds to meet those commitments.

The report also looked at other ways to improve the beach-going experience.

One long-standing bone of contention has been the question of dogs and dog owners who want to take advantage of the beaches. Berman said the public is split between those who think there should be op-portunities for dogs on the beaches all the time and those who think dogs and the problem of dog waste should be banned.

He said one possible solution is the adoption of beach dog parks — ar-eas where dogs would be allowed and where there would be pressure on dog owners to clean up after their pets.

The report also suggested offering more commercial concessions like refreshment stands and kayak rentals on the beaches.

Another source of frustration for some beachgoers are the piping plo-vers that nest on two of the beaches in Revere and Winthrop, forcing officials to cordon off the nesting areas. Berman said instead of using police caution tape, the areas could be identified in a more appealing way to designate the nests.

“That way it won’t look like a crime scene,” he said.

The report also makes specific recommendations for improvements to each of the dozen or so beaches looked at by the commission.

The Massachusetts Legislature formed Metropolitan Beaches Com-mission in 2006 to take an in-depth look at beaches that the Depart-ment of Conservation and Recreation manages in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

Berman said the commission will accept public comments through March 1 before releasing a final version of the report.

Jay Lindsay, Associated Press | May 26, 2013

Associated Press | February 01, 2014

Report: Mass. beaches are imperiled by budget cutsSTEVE LeBLANC | February 1, 2014

BOSTON (AP) — A new report is warning that improvements in the quality of beaches in the metropolitan Boston area in recent years are being threatened by budget and staffing cuts to the state agency overseeing them.

A draft report by the Metropolitan Beaches Commission obtained by The Associated Press is calling for the hiring of more full-time and seasonal employees, from beach managers to workers who help clean the sand.

The report also makes a series of recommendations about ways to improve the seaside experience, including instituting trolley shuttle services to some beaches, allowing kayak rentals and enhancing bicycle and pedestrian connections between beaches.

State Sen. Thomas McGee, co-chairman of the commission, said many of the beaches were in rough shape before the commission issued its first recommendations in 2007. He said the state was able to make real progress, and the investments made a difference.

McGee said it’s important not to let those improvements slip away.

‘‘We need to go from beaches that are good to beaches that are great,’’ he said. ‘‘We heard that loud and clear. If they can go to the beaches and really enjoy them, people understand that we are doing the right thing.’’

Bruce Berman of the group Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, which worked with the commission, said staffing levels at the Department of Conservation and Recreation have slipped in recent years as the state faced tighter budgets.

‘‘The bad news is that the gains we made are at risk because of the erosion of DCR’s budget during the recession,’’ Berman said.

The report warns that ‘‘chronic underfunding of DCR as a whole challenges its ability to meet its commitments to public and its mission as an agency’’ and that an extra $7 million to $10 million made be needed in annual operating funds to meet those commitments.

The report also looked at other ways to improve the beach-going experience.

One long-standing bone of contention has been the question of dogs and dog owners who want to take advantage of the beaches. Berman said the public is split between those who think there should be opportunities for dogs on the beaches all the time and those who think dogs and the problem of dog waste should be banned.

He said one possible solution is the adoption of beach dog parks — areas where dogs would be allowed and where there would be pressure on dog owners to clean up after their pets.

The report also suggested offering more commercial concessions like refreshment stands and kayak rentals on the beaches.

Another source of frustration for some beachgoers are the piping plovers that nest on two of the beaches in Revere and Winthrop, forcing officials to cordon off the nesting areas. Berman said instead of using police caution tape, the areas could be identified in a more appealing way to designate the nests.

‘‘That way it won’t look like a crime scene,’’ he said.

The report also makes specific recommendations for improvements to each of the dozen or so beaches looked at by the commission.

The Massachusetts Legislature formed Metropolitan Beaches Commission in 2006 to take an in-depth look at beaches that the Department of Conservation and Recreation manages in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

Berman said the commission will accept public comments through March 1 before releasing a final version of the report.

Mass. Beaches Are Imperiled By Budget Cuts

BOSTON — A new report warns that improvements to some beaches in the metropolitan Boston area could be threatened by budget and staffing cuts to the state agency overseeing them.

A draft report by the Metropolitan Beaches Commission obtained by The Associated Press is calling for the hiring of more full-time and seasonal employees, from beach managers to workers who help clean the sand.

The report also offers ways to improve the seaside experience, including instituting trolley shuttle services to some beaches, allowing kayak rentals and enhancing bicycle and pedestrian connections between beaches.

Co-chairman and state Sen. Thomas McGee says many beaches were in rough shape before the commission issued its first recommendations in 2007. He says the state was able to make progress and shouldn’t let those improvements slip away.

Steve LeBlanc | February 1, 2014

BOSTON

The Metropolitan Beaches Commission will unveil its recommendations for the 14 state-owned beaches, including Wollaston in Quincy and Nantasket in Hull, at a public meeting on Saturday, Feb. 1 at the UMass-Boston Campus Center.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to noon.

The commission’s recommendations will be based on the findings from 10 public hearings the commission held last summer in beach communities in eastern Massachusetts. The group’s final report won’t be released until spring, but it is ready to make preliminary suggestions.

The Metropolitan Beaches Commission, managed by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, was created by the Legislature in 2006 to oversee the 14 state-owned beaches in nine communities: Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, South Boston, East Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

People who want to attend the Feb. 1 event should email info@savetheharbor.org or call 617-451-2860. The meeting will be held in the third-floor ballroom in the UMass-Boston Campus Center Building.

UMass-Boston is within walking distance of the MBTA Red Line’s JFK/UMass stop. Motorists can park at the college for $6.

At the Aug. 14 hearing in Quincy, residents said Wollaston Beach has become a more attractive destination in recent years, but they would like to see improvements in water quality, beach nourishment, police patrols and bike traffic.

On July 17 in Hull, residents said that although that Nantasket Beach is no longer littered with trash, they are concerned about crumbling sea walls, beach erosion and a lack of shuttles to the beach from the Nantasket Junction MBTA station.

Metropolitan Beaches Commission to unveil recommendations in February

January 23, 2014

The Metropolitan Beaches Commission will unveil its recommendations for the 14 state-owned beaches, including Wollaston in Quincy and Nantasket in Hull, at a public meeting Saturday, Feb. 1, at the UMass-Boston Campus Center.

The commission’s recommendations will be based on their findings from 10 public hearings it held last summer in beach communities in Eastern Massachusetts. The group’s final report won’t be released until spring, but it is ready to make preliminary suggestions.

The Metropolitan Beaches Commission, managed by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, was created by the Legislature in 2006 to oversee the 14 state-owned beaches in nine communities: Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, South Boston, East Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

People who want to attend the Feb. 1 event should email info@savetheharbor.org or call 617-451-2860. The meeting will be held in the

third-floor ballroom in the UMass-Boston Campus Center Building.

UMass-Boston is within walking distance of the MBTA Red Line’s JFK/UMass stop. Motorists can park at the college for $6.

At the Aug. 14 hearing in Quincy, residents said Wollaston Beach has become a more attractive destination in recent years, but they would like to see improvements in water quality, beach nourishment, police patrols and bike traffic.

On July 17 in Hull, residents said that although Nantasket Beach is no longer littered with trash, they are concerned about crumbling sea walls, beach erosion and a lack of shuttles to the beach from the Nantasket Junction MBTA station.

Group to suggest Wollaston, Nantasket beach improvementsThe Metropolitan Beaches Commission will unveil its recommendations for the 14 state-owned

beaches, including Wollaston in Quincy and Nantasket in Hull, at a public meeting Saturday, Feb. 1, at the UMass-Boston Campus Center.

Patrick Ronan | January 16, 2014

Visitors to Wollaston Beach in Quincy and Nantasket Beach in Hull are encouraged to attend Saturday’s public hearing at UMass-Boston hosted by the Metropolitan Beaches Commission.

The meeting, to run from 10 a.m. to noon, will be held in the third-floor ballroom in the college’s campus center. The event is free and open to the public.

Advised by the nonprofit group Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, the beaches commission was created by the Legislature to oversee the 14 beaches controlled by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, including Wollaston and Nantasket. The commission held 10 public hearings last summer in communities including Quincy and Hull, gathering public feedback about how the beaches have improved and how they can be fixed.

Preliminary findings from the meetings will be presented at Saturday’s hearing, and organizers are looking for the public to suggest edits and new ideas. The final report, containing suggestions for the Legislature, which ultimately decides the budget for the Department of Conservation and Recreation, will be released in the spring.

“We want the people that were involved in the process, the people who love their beaches, to have a chance to review our findings, to make sure we got it right,” said Bruce Berman, communications director for Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.

Berman said preliminary ideas for Wollaston Beach include better water quality, less noise at night, extra trash and recycling bins, expanded uses for bicyclists and better use of Squantum Point Park. There’s also been talk of creating a playground at Wollaston Beach.

Preliminary ideas for Nantasket Beach include sea wall repairs, better public transportation and parking and the creation of a long-term master plan for the beach. Berman said people have suggested creating dog parks and new ferry services at both beaches.

UMass-Boston is within walking distance of the MBTA Red Line’s JFK/UMass stop. Motorists can park at the college for $6.

Report: Mass. beaches are imperiled by budget cutsA new report is warning that improvements in the quality of beaches in the metropolitan Boston area in

recent years are being threatened by budget and staffing cuts to the state agency overseeing them.

Patrick Ronan | January 31, 2014

BOSTON – A new report is warning that improvements in the quality of beaches in the metropolitan Boston area in recent years are being threatened by budget and staffing cuts to the state agency overseeing them.A draft report by the Metropolitan Beaches Commission obtained by The Associated Press is calling for the hiring of more full-time and seasonal employees, from beach managers to workers who help clean the sand.

The report also makes a series of recommendations about ways to improve the seaside experience, including instituting trolley shuttle services to some beaches, allowing kayak rentals and enhancing bicycle and pedestrian connections between beaches.

State Sen. Thomas McGee, co-chairman of the commission, said many of the beaches were in rough shape before the commission issued its first recommendations in 2007. He said the state was able to make real progress, and the investments made a difference.

McGee said it’s important not to let those improvements slip away.“We need to go from beaches that are good to beaches that are great,” he said. “We heard that loud and clear. If they can go to the beaches and really enjoy them, people understand that we are doing the right thing.”Bruce Berman of the group Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, which worked with the commission, said Department of Conservation and Recreation staffing levels have slipped in recent years as the state faced tighter budgets.

“The bad news is that the gains we made are at risk because of the erosion of DCR’s budget during the recession,” Berman said.

The report warns that “chronic underfunding of DCR as a whole challenges its ability to meet its commitments to public and its mission as an agency” and that an extra $7 million to $10 million made be needed in annual operating funds to meet those commitments.

The report also looked at other ways to improve the beach-going experience.

One longstanding bone of contention has been the question of dogs and dog owners who want to take advantage of the beaches. Berman said the public is split between those who think there should be opportunities for dogs on the beaches all the time and those who think dogs should be banned because of the problem of dog waste.

He said one possible solution is the adoption of beach dog parks – areas where dogs would be allowed and where there would be pressure on dog owners to clean up after their pets.

The report also suggested offering more commercial concessions like refreshment stands and kayak rentals on the beaches.

Another cause of frustration for some beach-goers are the piping plovers that nest on two of the beaches in Revere and Winthrop, forcing officials to cordon off the nesting areas. Berman said instead of using police caution tape, the areas could be identified in a more appealing way to designate the nests.

“That way it won’t look like a crime scene,” he said.

The report also makes specific recommendations for improvements to each of the dozen or so beaches looked at by the commission.

The state Legislature formed Metropolitan Beaches Commission in 2006 to take an in-depth look at beaches that the Department of Conservation and Recreation manages in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

Berman said the commission will accept public comments through March 1 before releasing a final version of the report.

Report: Mass. beaches are imperiled by budget cutsA new report is warning that improvements in the quality of beaches in the metropolitan Boston area in

recent years are being threatened by budget and staffing cuts to the state agency overseeing them.

Steve LeBlanc | February 3, 2014

The Metropolitan Beaches Commission will reconvene this weekend to take stock of the Commonwealth’s beaches, including those in South Boston and Dorchester.

On Saturday, Feb. 1, the group will meet at the UMass Boston Campus Center from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

First formed by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2006, the commission is tasked with evaluating conditions at the 14 Department of Conservation and Recreation beaches that dot the Massachusetts coastline. It is made up of local residents, clean-water advocates, and elected officials and is administered by the non-profit Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.

It released its first report in 2007 and reconvened in 2013 to generate its second report.

On Saturday, the commission will discuss the new report and the recommendations included in it.

The report, in addition to including recommendations from local residents, is also expected to include information provided through an online survey.

Once the report has been officially released, it will be used to guide future initiatives at beaches throughout the Commonwealth.

Looking at beaches from Revere to Nahant, the report is expected to l include both recommendations for way to improve the waterfront recreation areas, as well as highlight areas where DCR is doing a good job.

To read more about the South Boston community meeting, click here.

To read more about the Dorchester community meeting, click here.

Metropolitan Beaches Commission to review 2014 report this weekend

Patrick Rosso | January 27, 2014

On Saturday, February 1, 2014 the Metropolitan Beaches Commission will hold a public meeting at the UMass Boston Campus Center from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon.

In the summer and fall of 2013, the Metropolitan Beaches Commission, in partnership with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, held 10 public hearings at the Massachusetts State House and in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy, and Hull. Nearly 700 people participated in the hearings and scores more took part in an online survey.

Later this year the Commission will issue its final report. If you are able to attend the Feb. 1 meeting, please take a moment to RSVP by email to info@savetheharbor.org, or by phone to 617-451-2860.

Driving and Parking Directions

The public meeting will take place at UMass Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Dorchester, MA 02125. It will be held in the Campus Center Building in the 3rd floor Ballroom. There will be parking available in the South Parking Lot for $6. Please note that the parking lot is marked as student parking only, but it is ok to park there for the public meeting. UMass Boston is also accessible by public transportation via the MBTA Red Line’s JFK/Umass stop with a 5 minute shuttle ride to campus.

Location100 Morrissey Blvd.Dorchester, MA 02125

Beaches Commission to host public meeting at UMass BostonFebruary 1, 2014

Lynn, Nahant, & Revere residents invited to help Metro-politan Beaches Commission review preliminary findingsNORTH OF BOSTON – The Metropolitan Beaches Commission (MBC) announced today that it will hold a regional meeting to review the preliminary findings from the 2013 Metropolitan Beaches Commission hearings.

The meeting will be held on Saturday, February 1, 2014 from 10:00 AM to Noon at the UMass Boston Campus Center (University Drive East, Boston, MA 02125).

Residents and beachgoers will be asked to review the preliminary findings of the Commission. They will also be invited to provide additional input to ensure that the Commission got things right during the 2013 hearings.

The information collected from the regional hearing will inform the Commission’s upcoming report and will identify and showcase

economic development and capital investment opportunities for local communities made possible by public investment in clean water and better beaches in our region’s waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities.

The final report is expected in the late Spring 2014.

The Commission, chaired by Senator Tom McGee of Lynn, was originally established in 2006 and reconvened in 2013 by the Massachusetts Legislature to assess the state of the Boston Harbor region’s public beaches located in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

To RSVP for the meeting email info@savetheharbor.org or call (617) 451-2860. For more information, visit www.savetheharbor.org/mbc2013.

January 30, 2014