Edgartown’s Norton Point Beach will be open to over sand vehicle (OSV) access beginning Saturday, July 1.
Due to staffing and active shorebird activity, access will be limited to 50 vehicles at a time from 8:30 am to 6 pm.
The Edgartown Parks Department — the new stewards of the beach — will be texting out alerts notifying when the beach has reached capacity.
Town staff will be monitoring the traffic and allow additional vehicles if space allows.
An announcement by the parks department states that for now, all wheel drive vehicles will not be allowed. Due to current beach conditions, only four wheel drive vehicles will be permitted.
Dogs will not be permitted.
“We want to reiterate that this section of beach is not conducive for a beach cruise, we ask that you come out only if you plan to park and spend extended time at the beach,” Edgartown Parks said in an update on social media.
“The commissioners recognize this is not the ideal situation but feel confident that we are moving in a positive direction.”
To receive text alerts regarding updates and vehicle capacity, text “BEACH” to 877-550-8627.
This is not acceptable access to islanders
(like myself) who seek refuge by driving out to Norton Point (after a 10 hour day serving the needs of our community) to escape the crowds and appreciate this beautiful island we live on. Only 50 vehicles, limited hours to 6:30pm is a horrible scenario for those of us who have spent decades unwinding from the summer madness to refuel our soul on Norton Point each summer. I feel staffing shortage is a lame and overused excuse for not leaving the chain down in the evening to allow hard working year rounders and our families to visit our beloved beach after a long work day.
Have you considered walking out?
It is a beautiful walk, except for those God awful smelly beach buggies and the ruts they leave behind, be careful when walking to not step on a squished PP, they smell bad and are hard to get off your shoe .
“a 10 hour day serving the needs of our community” and “hard working year rounders and our families” means that you drive when and where you please?
Those are such old tropes,
Favorites of the wash ashore crowd.
People who never attended MVRH
Do you remember the 60’s bumper sticker, Give Me a Break – I Live Here Year Around.
Do you qualify for that bumper sticker?
Real Islanders changed it to Give Year Rounders Hell.
The original sticker fell out popularity