Sheriff’s Meadow installs fence to plant grass

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A new rope fence at West Chop Meadow has stirred some controversy on social media.

A newly installed rope fence across from 756 Main St. in Vineyard Haven is stirring debate and speculation on social media.

I was shocked and saddened … and still am … that this little space is now fenced off,” Debra Luce wrote on Islander’s Talk. “As long as I can remember, we have been able to pull over and enjoy the view, or lately for me — to photograph it. Did someone park there and abuse the view? Trespass?”

The post generated 33 comments, many of them speculating about the intent of the fence.

The fence along Main Street is intended to keep cars and landscaping trucks from parking there, Adam Moore, executive director for Sheriff’s Meadow, which owns the property, told The Times. Years of parking have worn away the grass, and Sheriff’s Meadow is going to replant it, Moore said.

West Chop Meadow was granted to Sheriff’s Meadow by property owners across Main Street, but several of those homes retain deeded rights to cross the meadow and get to the water, Moore said.

A sign on the property states, “West Chop Meadow was given to Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation in 1983 by Mr. and Mrs. Edward Douglas and Ms. Martha Stott Diener. Their intention was to preserve the view for all to enjoy while maintaining the meadow as wildlife habitat. We invite you to pause and enjoy the view of the outer harbor, but ask that you not enter the meadow.”

There have been some issues with trespassing, Moore said. “It can be confusing because people from the properties have deeded access to walk across,” he said.

There is already a split-rail fence on the property, but that’s back away from the road, at the request of the town. Whether the rope fence will remain once the grass is grown is something Sheriff’s Meadow will have to talk to the town about, Moore said.

17 COMMENTS

  1. Interesting. Not that I get up there all that often, but I thought the sign meant not to deviate from the path. Apparently it means don’t even use the path through the meadow to the beach? Just clarifying.

  2. “while maintaining the meadow as wildlife habitat.” What type of grass will they be planting in the roadside area.

  3. “Whether the rope fence will remain once the grass is grown is something Sheriff’s Meadow will have to talk to the town about, Moore said. ” Does this imply the rope fence has location or permitting issues?

  4. “There have been some issues with trespassing, Moore said. “It can be confusing because people from the properties have deeded access to walk across,” he said.”

    so I ask– how many people actually walk down there, and how exactly does that hurt the billionaires that own the access ?

  5. Too bad the house that was built across the street is so out of scale with the rest of the community. The view inland from that field used to be quite pleasant when the Douglas family owned it.

  6. This “rope a dope story” is exactly why I admire Donald Trump.
    First, has anybody looked into what material this rope is made of?
    Secondly, was this rope made in China?
    Thirdly, while I’m not into this sort of thing, is this rope issue a deep state attempt by the “submissive Democratic” masochists who unconsciously want to be trundled in the midterm elections?

  7. ALL this is very frustrating month after month, week after week. Before all these Wash-a-shores came and started their crazy entitled ” I am here now” fad and attitudes we never had or dreamed we would face all these problems, signs every where, no this, no that. We have lost everything that attracted the wash-a-shores to our island. Disgraceful!
    I bet the Garden Women in the Gazette will blame it all on Trump and the Republicans in her weekly column next week all with the blessings of her editor!

  8. “We are going to build the rope fence, Mexico WILL pay for it, and it will be beautiful. Believe me, Mexico is going to pay.”

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