Towns around the cape are restricting access to their beaches for nonresidents to avoid overcrowding and are also implementing new parking rules.
Several Cape Cod towns, including Mashpee and Truro, are closing their beaches to nonresidents amid the coronavirus pandemic. They’re also implementing new parking rules and some towns will also be closing parking lots to vehicles to avoid overcrowding at beaches this summer.
In Mashpee, only town residents are allowed to access the community beaches after severe overcrowding at John’s Pond and other local beaches. “This beach access restriction is intended to advance the interests of the aforementioned Advisories and Guidances by preventing large gatherings at and overcrowding of the Town Beaches during the COVID-19 State of Emergency,” reads the Board of Selectmen’s order. “All persons authorized to access said Beaches during this temporary restriction will be expected to comply with all recommended COVID-19 safety measures, including appropriate social-distancing and wearing of face masks when social-distancing is not possible, while on the Town Beaches.”
Meanwhile, at Truro, National Park Service has closed the Head of the Meadow parking lot to vehicles until late August; this allows for safe physical distancing “for visitors at both the seashore and town managed beaches” according to their alert.
Other towns like Barnstable and Falmouth are also restricting access to their beaches and enforcing strict social distancing rules, although they haven’t seen much of an issue with overcrowding. In Barnstable, for example, beach staff spread out different access points have been reminding visitors to wear masks and stay 12-feet apart from other groups.
see also: Massachusetts Officials Announce New Restrictions on Restaurants And Outdoor Gatherings
[featured image: Rusty Watson, Unsplash]