MINUTES
CRITICAL PLANNING COMMITTEE SUB-COMMITTEE 11
BAY/POND BEACHES
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Present: Loretta Neilsen, Ed Sedlock, Russ French, Joan Sullivan
The Committee met at the Town Hall at 9:30 am and carpooled for our on-site visit to Eastham beaches. High tide today was about 1 pm.
The minutes of the June 17th minutes were approved.
A quick survey of Nauset Light Beach at 9:45 am showed about 40% of the Eastham section filled with cars coming in.
At South Sunken Meadow, (10 am) seven of the 14 or 15 spots were filled. The beach has good sand and few rocks and is protected by Lieutenant Island and Great Island in Wellfleet. Although 3 hours before high tide it was possible to swim. There is about 20 feet of beach at high tide as at most beaches. South Sunken Meadow is one of the most beautiful of Eastham beaches but has very limited parking and is generally full any time around high tide or later in the day. Expanded parking would be helpful.
At Cooks Brook, 10:35 am, about 17 spots of the nearly 100 were filled. We noted debris in the parking lots and in the restroom area and graffiti on the wall. The signage was poor. There was a single “dog” sign and one handicapped parking sign only at the beach front.
Campground Beach at 11 am, about 28 cars were in the lot. Debris was again noticeable near the Porto potty.
At Thumpertown, again there was some debris and the signs were scattered.
At Wiley Park about 23 spots were filled. The poison ivy is a major problem. It is everywhere near the beach and off the walkways. The walkways need be cleaned of sand as they are slippery. Some aquaculture work will be done in the late fall on the weeds in the water. The lack of sand and paucity of beach is still a problem. Children are trying to build sand castles out of dirt. There is debris in the wooded areas.
At First Encounter at 11:45 am the parking lot was completely filled and the beach was crowded. Again there was debris in the area of the restrooms. Poison ivy lined the walk to the Indian monument.
Restroom, porto potties were clean and secure at all beaches.
Many people were walking or riding bikes to the beaches.
Recommendations:
Signage -
1) Beach signs are scattered and inconsistent. At Sunken Meadow there were paper signs posted on mooring and shell fishing rules, but at no other beaches. At Cooks Brook there were only handicapped parking signs at the beach front. The dog rules should be posted prominently at all beaches. Signs need to be coordinated by all departments rather than done piece meal. They should be posted at the beach front for visibility and easy reading rather than at entrance where they cannot be read without getting out of the car.
2) The beach regulations are not welcoming. They are repeatedly negative, i.e. “no alcoholic beverages, no advertising, etc. Do we want visitors to see this as their first impression of Eastham beaches?
3) One large sign with pertinent information could be erected near the beach front or at the entrance with major information, i.e. the National Park sign at Nuaset Light Beach.
4) “No dogs allowed” signs should be posted at entrance and beach frontage at each beach.
Cleanliness
Beaches were clean of debris. Restrooms and porto potties were clean and secured. Litter, however, in the parking lot and near the restrooms was noticeable.
Sand
Sand could be of better quality. At Wiley Park there is only dirt at the beach.
Other
Poison ivy is a major problem at Wiley Park and at First Encounter.
Additional bike racks could be added at some beaches. Benches as at First Encounter could be placed at the front of all the beach.
Our tour ended about 12:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan Sullivan
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