Town of Duxbury - Beach Operations - BEACH UPDATE 6/15/2021

DUXBURY BEACH OPERATIONS

BEACH UPDATE – 6/15/21

Hello Duxbury Beach sticker holder, I hope this email finds you well. Below please find another Duxbury Beach update.  The update contains some important information and I hope that you will read it in it’s entirety.

CROSSOVER CLOSURES
As of the day of this email crossover 2 and 3 are closed due to endangered species activity.
We anticipate that crossover #1 will be closed as of 6/18. 
For residents of Duxbury with a current over sand sticker you will still be able to come to the beach and park in the resident parking lots, directly over the bridge.

NORTHERN LOT – IMPORTANT UPDATE
For non-residents with a current over sand sticker, you will be able to access the Northern Lot. I again attach a map of the location of this lot. You can also find this map on the Town website under beach information. There are approximately 90 spots, parking is free if you have a current sticker and the lot will be open 8am to 8pm each day.
Due to endangered species activity in the NORTHERN LOT, dogs will not be allowed for the next few weeks. Non -Residents cannot bring dogs if you are going to access the beach via the Northern Lot.
 So if you are going to access the Northern Lot  – you must leave your dogs at home .
This is similar to the restriction currently forbidding dogs (since April 1, 2021) at the ocean side beach in the resident lot.

TWO IMPORTANT ISSUES – SPEEDING and HARRASMENT OF EMPLOYEES
Unfortunately, this email needs to address two items that we really need your assistance with.
First, we are encountering too many incidents of speeding. The speed limit on the bridge is 10 MPH. Our bridge will be undergoing some repairs this fall and in the upcoming years. We need folks to slow down and go 10 mph to help our bridge remain useful for as long as possible. Police have begun to pick up their enforcement and you will be cited if you do not comply. 
The speed limit on the back road is 15 MPH and 5 MPH where noted.
Secondly, there are literally thousands of folks using the property each day. Whether it is permit holders or traffic to Gurnet /Saquish it is a busy place. Nearly everyone is great about complying with the rules and regs. Unfortunately, we have seen an uptick in harassment of employees as they do their job. This behavior will not be tolerated. If you are a permit holder you will be subject to revocation of your sticker for the season, or worse.  If you are a person using the road to access Gurnet /Saquish you can be subject to police action.
 A specific example of this unacceptable behavior relates to temporary road closures. Employees have been subjected to verbal threats and even threats of bodily harm.
 In the upcoming days and weeks there will be temporary closures of the road as piping plover chicks cross back and forth. These are mandated closures by regulation. It is completely unacceptable to threaten those employees in any way. Please be aware that I take this situation very seriously and the Town will follow up on every report and take the appropriate action necessary insure our employees are safe.

RESIDENT PARKING LOT
As of today, you will note that the northern most pedestrian pathway from the resident lot to the ocean side beach is blocked off. This path is off limits to pedestrians for the next few weeks due to endangered species activity.
In addition, you will note that the pedestrian pathway to the beach in about the middle of the lot has a low “ barrier” across it. You ARE ALLOWED to step over these small barriers and access the beach. Bird Monitor’s will be on site to explain/assist you if necessary. 
Also, you will note the same type of barriers are in place at the mobility mat area. Patrons ARE ALLOWED to step over these barriers and access the beach. Staff will be on site to explain/ assist if necessary.
The temporary low barriers are in place to restrict piping plover chicks from accessing the bayside via the resident parking lot.
We appreciate your cooperation navigating through this recent development. Questions? Please ask staff on site.

COMMUNICATIONS
I would like to remind patrons that daily information will be handled through our Twitter account. This platform will be used as a one-way flow of information and we can have 6-10 tweets in a busy day. We don’t answer questions on this platform. We see that some patrons are asking questions on Twitter and we are not avoiding answering those. Please email questions or concerns to our Beach Operations Administrator – Ryan Brown at brown@town.duxbury.ma.us  - Mr Brown’s office # is 781-934-7034  extension #2, if he is not in please leave him a message and he will get back to you.

It is my hope that we can all work together to make our beach season as enjoyable as possible.

Hope to see you at the beach.

Gordon H. Cushing
Recreation Director
Town of Duxbury