2022 Better Beaches Program Grants Request for Proposals

 

Save the Harbor Seeks Applications for 2022 Better Beaches Grant Program

Group will distribute $250,000 to community organizations for free beach events from Nahant to Nantasket

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) are now seeking Better Beaches Program grant proposals from organizations in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy, and Hull to support free beach events and activities on the region’s public beaches this year.

In 2021, Save the Harbor’s Better Beaches Program invested nearly $300,000 in the program, supporting 67 organizations in nine waterfront communities from Nahant to Nantasket. In turn, those organizations ran 188 events, including festivals, movie nights, concerts, beach parties, fitness classes, sailing and kayaking sessions, speaker series and summer programs.

If you or your organization has a great idea for a free beach event or program, just follow this link.

Among the 188 events funded by the Better Beaches Program in 2021 was the Beach:Ability Festival at Constitution Beach in East Boston

“Nothing brings more life to our beaches than free events and programs like these,” said Metropolitan Beaches Commission Co-Chair Rep. Adrian Madaro of East Boston, who was instrumental in securing funds for the program. “They are particularly important for kids and families this year, as we put the pandemic behind us and return to the beach. Thanks to Save the Harbor/Save the Bay for making it happen.”

The Better Beaches program puts resources in the hands of local beach lovers, supporting and empowering them to execute events for their communities. The impact is clear — in 2021, these events connected more than 1 million people to the water at 13 different beaches and waterfront parks.

This summer, Save the Harbor has chosen to center community voices by reserving $25,000 of Better Beaches funds to be distributed by participatory budgeting.

From December 2021 to February 2022, individuals from local schools and community centers submitted their ideas for free events and programs to activate the region’s beaches in the warmer months.
Cast your vote by April 11 here

Better Beaches funds will be intentionally awarded to organizations, programs, individuals, and creatives who empower, amplify and invest in community members of color, members of the Queer community, and people with disabilities. “Save the Harbor has recommitted ourselves to equity and anti-racism in our programs and on our beaches. We are excited to see the creative ways organizations and individuals will be activating our beaches this summer!” said Save the Harbor’s Executive Director Chris Mancini.

Funds to support the program come from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Baker/Polito Administration, and from the Harpoon Shamrock Splash, which was held on March 6, 2022 at Constitution Beach in East Boston. As a result, Save the Harbor will be able to invest nearly $250,000 to support free beach events and programs. These programs will activate beaches in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

“The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is committed to ensuring that all Massachusetts residents who visit our properties have the opportunity to partake in recreational activities - something we know is paramount to everyone’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being,” said Acting DCR Commissioner Stephanie Cooper. “We are especially proud to again partner with Save the Harbor/Save on our Better Beaches Program and are looking forward to another great season of free beach programs from Nahant to Nantasket.”

“The Better Beaches Program events are as diverse as the communities that host them,” said Metropolitan Beaches Commission Co-Chair, Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn, “But one thing they all have in common is that they bring communities together to enjoy our region’s public beaches. Thank you to Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and DCR for working together to strengthen our beachfront communities and waterfront neighborhoods.”

Save the Harbor’s success would not be possible without our program partners and event sponsors, including Arctic Chill and Harpoon Brewery, JetBlue, FMC Ice Sports, P&G Gillette, National Grid, Coast Cannabis, the Daily Catch, Comcast, Mix 104.1, The Blue Sky Collaborative, Boston & Maine Webcams, BostonHarbor.com, The Boston Foundation, and The Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation. 

In addition, Save the Harbor recognizes the Metropolitan Beaches Commission Co-Chairs Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn, and Representative Adrian Madaro of East Boston and the legislative and community members of the Commission as well as Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano for their support for our beaches and our communities. We also thank the Baker-Polito Administration, the Massachusetts Legislature, Save the Harbor's partners at the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the YMCA of Greater Boston, and the hundreds of people who took part in the Shamrock Splash for their support.

Better Beaches Program grants range from $1,500-$5,000 with a typical grant of $2,500, and in some cases Save the Harbor may consider larger grants. Information about the events and programs that were supported last year can be found in Save the Harbor’s 2021 Impact Report, which is available at  https://www.savetheharbor.org/publications

To apply for a grant, visit https://www.savetheharbor.org/better-beaches. If you have any questions about the Better Beaches Program, please contact Maya Smith at smith@savetheharbor.org.

Applications are due by April 22, 2022, after which Save the Harbor’s Better Beaches Grants Committee will review the proposals. They will present the checks at their annual Better Beaches Award Reception, which all grant recipients are expected to attend, on June 11, 2022 at 10:00 AM at Boston’s Fish Pier. 

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Shamrock Splash at Constitution Beach

 

On Sunday, March 6^th at noon more than 150 “Shamrock Splashers” hit the cold, clean water at Constitution Beach in East Boston and raised more than $50,000 to support Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Better Beaches Program partnership with the Department of Conservation & Recreation.

 

 

Newly elected State Senator Lydia Edwards of East Boston and State Representative Jessica Giannino of Revere joined event host and Metropolitan Beaches Commission Co-Chair Representative Adrian Madaro of East Boston in welcoming the crowd to Constitution Beach and thanking Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, which has invested nearly $2 million dollars in free beach events and programs since the first Splash in 2008.

Participants won prizes for biggest fundraiser and best costumes, including flights on JetBlue and great swag from Harpoon Brewery, and enjoyed quesadillas, chowder, Arctic Chill Hard Seltzer and Harpoon after their splash.

 

 

From left to right: Congratulations to Raffle Winner Kristen Barry of Cambridge, Event Master of Ceremonies Kennedy Elsey of Mix104, Event Sponsor Donnie Todd of JetBlue, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Executive Director Chris Mancini, Top Fundraiser Jane Kepros of West Roxbury, Event Sponsor Charlie Storey of Harpoon Brewery, Raffle Winner Derek Green of Dorchester, and Top Fundraiser David Nardella with his Penguin Plunge teammates Jeff Reagan and John Murphy all from Charlestown.

 

 

Kennedy Elsey congratulates Costume Contest winners Jenn Brundage of Allston and Christian Matyi  of the South End who splashed as the “Grapes of Raft” and Felicia Harwood of Worcester, who splashed as a stylish troll.

 

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Executive Director Chris Mancini thanked their program partners and event sponsors, including Arctic Chill and Harpoon Brewery, JetBlue, FMC Ice Sports, P&G Gillette, National Grid, Coast Cannabis, the Daily Catch, Comcast, Mix 104.1, The Blue Sky Collaborative, Boston & Maine Webcams, BostonHarbor.com, The Boston Foundation, and The Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation.

 

Mancini thanked Metropolitan Beaches Commission Co-Chairs Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn, and Representative Adrian Madaro of East Boston and the legislative and community members of the Commission as well as Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano for their support for our beaches and our communities. He also thanked the Baker-Polito Administration, the Massachusetts Legislature, Save the Harbor's partners at the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the YMCA of Greater Boston, and the hundreds of people who took part in the Shamrock Splash for their support.

 

Here's a screenshot of the leader board which you can find at www.shamrocksplash.org.

 

Please note that Joe, Chris and Bruce aren't eligible to win prizes - but had fun getting cold for a great cause anyway.

Proceeds from this year’s Shamrock Splash will be invested in free events and programs on the metropolitan region’s public beaches in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy, and Hull. You can find out more on their website at www.savetheharbor.org

 

You can also watch a short video of this year’s Shamrock Splash on Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtectGBbNDQ and a recording of the event live stream on BostonHarbor.com’s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/VN_2ayhv17Y

Participatory Budgeting

For the summer of 2022, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay is introducing participatory budgeting for the first time. We're using this process to bring community voices into our annual Better Beaches program. To let the community decide how money is spent on free beach events, $25,000 of Better Beaches funds will be put toward ideas from community members! Ideas are being collected until February 28, 2022. All community members who use the Metropolitan region’s public beaches are eligible to submit an idea through our website's form at this link: https://bit.ly/savetheharborpb 

 After the idea collection phase, Save the Harbor will narrow the number of submitted ideas through its steering committee. The committee, composed of young people, staff members, and partner organizations that engaged in designing the process, will prioritize ideas that increase access to the beaches for young people of color and young low-income residents. Ideas must be for free programs on the Metropolitan Region’s public beaches in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy, and Hull. 

After the ideas have been narrowed down to ten possible projects, organizations and individuals will be able to submit full project proposals that align with one of the ideas. The steering committee will review the project proposals and match each idea to the best proposal. Those projects will be placed on an online ballot, open to all Massachusetts residents over the age of 12. The projects with the most votes will be funded until the total of $25,000 has been allocated.

Save the Harbor conducted idea collections with senior students at Boston's public schools, including this class at O'Bryant High.

This democratic, participatory process is part of Save the Harbor’s annual Better Beaches program. Since 2008, Save the Harbor has partnered with the Department of Conservation and Recreation to award $200,000 annually in small grants to local organizations and artists who activate the region’s public beaches through free public events on beaches in the Metropolitan Region. Over $1,000,000 in grants have been awarded since the Better Beaches program started. For more information about the process, please contact Maya Smith at smith@savetheharbor.org or 617-451-2860 x1006.

Meet Elizabeth! Save the Harbor's Senior Staff Assistant

Hi everyone,

My name is Elizabeth McLaughlin and I'm the new Senior Staff Assistant at Save the Harbor/Save the Bay! I've been here for about a month now, and it's been going swimmingly.

I graduated from Boston University last spring, where I studied journalism and political science. I've lived in Massachusetts my whole life, and Boston has been home for 4.5 years now. Some of my favorite things to do are to go for walks on Castle Island and along the Esplanade, and to check out local farmers markets in the summer. I'm excited to say the Boston Harbor, which was once an exciting field trip destination when I was growing up in Western Massachusetts, is now my office!

I'm extremely passionate about the environmental movement, so of course I'm thrilled to contribute to our efforts to conserve and protect our region's beautiful waterfront spaces and marine environment. What drew me in most though—and what makes me proudest of working for Save the Harbor—is the organization's work to make these public spaces accessible and inclusive. I believe one of the most important goals of the movement besides identifying how to protect the environment, should be focusing on who we are protecting natural spaces for: everyone! I'm particularly enthusiastic to be starting during the first year of Participatory Budgeting for our Better Beaches program, which will give the local community and creatives the power to decide what free events they'd like to see on the region's beaches this summer. 

I've started at an especially fun time: Shamrock Splash Season! I'm looking forward to diving into the work (and the freezing cold ocean!) to raise money for a good cause and hope to see you there on March 6^th as well.

-Elizabeth

Commission Hearing Focuses on Language Barriers on the Beach

DCR will deploy multi-lingual signs “across our system, including of course, on all the Metropolitan beaches” beginning in 2022.

 On Wednesday, February 9, at 10:00 AM, the Metropolitan Beaches Commission and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay convened a Virtual Public Hearing to address language barriers on the Metropolitan Region’s public beaches in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

At the hearing the Commission took testimony from people who do not predominantly communicate in English about the obstacles they face when they try to use and enjoy the region’s public beaches.

At King’s Beach and the rest of the Metropolitan Region’s public beaches, water quality, beach rules, and regulations need to be accessible to people that do not speak English as their primary language to promote equity.

“Overcoming language barriers is a key issue,” said Chris Mancini, Executive Director of Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay. “If we don’t have diversity in programs and signage on our beaches, folks will be forced to be spectators when they should be involved, active participants.”

 

More than 50 people took part in the hearing, which was Co-Chaired by Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn and Representative Adrian Madaro of East Boston. It was translated into six languages and included representatives from Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

 

Representative Adrian Madaro of East Boston, who Co-Chairs the Commission, set the tone in his opening remarks saying, “in East Boston, language justice and language access are not merely aspirations; they are absolute necessities to ensure the safety, wellbeing, and success of all of our neighbors.”

 

Participants heard presentations on current and best practices for multilingual signage and websites. “Of the 250 signs we looked at across our Massachusetts coast, just four of them were in languages other than English,” said Bruce Berman, Director of Strategy and Communications of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. “That’s simply not good enough.”

 

“QR codes on beach signage is one easy way to connect people to the multilingual resources they need,” said Save the Harbor/Save the Bay Policy Intern Caroline Adamson during her presentation, pointing out that QR codes are already in use on signs in Revere and elsewhere.

Among those who testified at the hearing were Stephanie Cooper, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation and Julia Mejia, City Councilor-at-Large, City of Boston.

According to Acting DCR Commissioner Cooper, “we are focused on having our areas accessible and safe. We also need to have signage and information that provides people with the rules and regulations. What are the amenities? What do I need to know to enjoy the beach and be safe?” Cooper underscored the importance of the use of QR codes, observing that, “Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s presentation highlighted some of where we are headed and some of the progress we still need to make. The great thing about a QR code is that you can provide a lot of information in all the languages that you want. Our plan is to use QR codes this year.”

“I hope that in the years to come our public spaces resemble, more accurately, our community,” said Julia Mejia, Boston City Councilor-at-Large. “When I look at a lot of the signs, oftentimes at our public beaches, everything is still very much in English. I think that we need to do a better job of making sure that, if we are serious about creating spaces where people are seen and reflected, then translation and information justice is a part of that conversation.”

Commission Co-Chair Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn agreed, and was “inspired by the powerful testimony” he heard at the hearing. “We look forward to using this community input to make our beaches more equitable and inclusive for all people regardless of the language they speak.”

The Metropolitan Beaches Commission welcomes public participation and will gladly accept written testimony from all interested parties. Please email your comments to rodriguez@savethe harbor.org.

For more information about the hearing contact Save the Harbor's Executive Director Chris Mancini by email to mancini@savetheharbor.org or on his cell at (617) 909-6667, or their Director of Strategy & Communications Bruce Berman by email to bruce@bostonharbor.com or on his cell at 617-293-6243.

Recordings of this hearing are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian-Creole, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Mandarin here

About the Metropolitan Beaches Commission

 

The Metropolitan Beaches Commission is a permanent Commission charged with making findings and recommendations to the Legislature and the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) on ways to improve the metropolitan region's public beaches. It was established by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2006 and is led and managed by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.  You can find more information about the MBC on Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's website, and download copies of our previous reports at https://www.savetheharbor.org/mbc-archives.

 

Late last spring, the Commission decided to focus attention on ways to increase diversity, equity and inclusion on the Metropolitan Region’s public beaches, to improve access for people of color, people with disabilities, and people who may not speak English as their primary language. Last May, we heard from a diverse group of civic leaders and community members about ways in which we could increase diversity on the beaches and in our beach programming. In November, the Commission focused on ways to increase and improve access for people with disabilities on the Metropolitan Region’s public beaches. The most recent hearing focused on ways to overcome language barriers that prevent people from safely enjoying their beaches.

 

 “We hope these three hearings will enable us to do for equity, diversity and inclusion what we did for management and maintenance of the Metropolitan Beaches during the last rounds of public hearings.” said Commission Co-Chair Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn. “Working together we will provide DCR, the Commonwealth and our communities a blueprint for improving public access to take these beaches from good to great.”

 

“Our state beaches are public treasures that belong to all of us,” said Commission Co-Chair Representative Adrian Madaro of East Boston. “We need to advance environmental justice and center diversity, equity, and inclusion so that people of all backgrounds can enjoy them for years to come, no matter what language they may speak.”

 

Following this hearing on language barriers, the Commission will host a Virtual Summit, at which they will present their preliminary findings to a broad and diverse audience of beach users to get their thoughts and input. Following the Summit, the Commission will share a report of their findings and recommendations with the Legislature, the Administration, DCR and the public. It will serve as a roadmap for improving access and increasing diversity, equity and inclusion on our public beaches going forward.

 

 “The legislative and community members of the Commission hope that this hearing will help us improve the beach experience for people who do not speak English as their primary language,” said Chris Mancini, Executive Director of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. “We are looking forward to working together with DCR, other state agencies, and our beachfront communities to develop strategies to improve access to these spectacular urban natural resources for people of all languages and backgrounds.”

 

For more information about the MBC or the hearing, please contact Save the Harbor's Executive Director Chris Mancini by email to mancini@savetheharbor.org or on his cell at (617) 909-6667, or their Director of Strategy & Communications Bruce Berman by email to bruce@bostonharbor.com or on his cell at 617-293-6243.

 

You can access this release in your language by using the Google Translate button on the top left of your browser.

Language Barriers on the Beach

 

Metropolitan Beaches Commission Hearing on Language Barriers on February 9, 2022.

On Wednesday, February 9, at 10:00 AM, the Metropolitan Beaches Commission and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay will convene a Virtual Public Hearing to address language barriers on the Metropolitan Region’s public beaches in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

 

“The legislative and community members of the Commission hope that this hearing will help us improve the beach experience for people who do not speak English as their primary language,” said Chris Mancini, Executive Director of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. “We look forward to hearing from and working together with local elected officials, DCR, DPH, DEP, DMF, MWRA, other state agencies and our beachfront communities to develop strategies to improve access to these spectacular urban natural resources for people of all languages and backgrounds.”

 

The public is welcome to attend to share their thoughts on what is working and what can be done better. You can register for the hearing by following this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwudu6oqzMuHdVZoGCTFxuWFXy1J_2khGPD

 

At King’s Beach and on all of the Metropolitan Region’s urban beaches, water quality, beach rules, and fishing regulations need to be accessible to people that do not speak English as their primary language.

For more information about the MBC or the hearing, please contact Save the Harbor's Executive Director Chris Mancini by email to mancini@savetheharbor.org or on his cell at (617) 909-6667, or their Director of Strategy & Communications Bruce Berman by email to bruce@bostonharbor.com or on his cell at 617-293-6243.

 

You can access this release in your language on this blog using the Google Translate button on the top left of your browser. As a reminder, there will be live translations in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian-Creole, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Mandarin.

 

About the Metropolitan Beaches Commission

The Metropolitan Beaches Commission is a permanent Commission charged with making findings and recommendations to the Legislature and the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) on ways to improve the metropolitan region's public beaches. It was established by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2006 and is led and managed by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.  You can find more information about the MBC on Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's website, and download copies of our previous reports at https://www.savetheharbor.org/mbc-archives.

 

Late last spring, the Commission decided to focus attention on ways to increase diversity, equity and inclusion on the Metropolitan Region’s public beaches, to improve access for people of color, people with disabilities, and people who may not speak English as their primary language. Last May, we heard from a diverse group of civic leaders and community members about ways in which we could increase diversity on the beaches and in our beach programming. In November, we focused on ways to increase and improve access for people with disabilities on the Metropolitan Region’s public beaches.  February’s hearing focuses on way to overcome language barriers that prevent people from safely enjoying their beaches.

 

 “We hope these three hearings will enable us to do for equity, diversity and inclusion what we did for management and maintenance of the Metropolitan Beaches during the last rounds of public hearings.” said Commission Co-Chair Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn. “Working together we will provide DCR, the Commonwealth and our communities a blueprint for improving public access to take these beaches from good to great.”

 

“Our state beaches are public treasures that belong to all of us,” said Commission Co-Chair Representative Adrian Madaro of East Boston. “We need to advance environmental justice and center diversity, equity, and inclusion so that people of all backgrounds can enjoy them for years to come, no matter what language they may speak.”

 

Following this hearing on language barriers, the Commission will host a Virtual Summit, at which they will present their preliminary findings to a broad and diverse audience of beach users to get their thoughts and input. Following the Summit, the Commission will share a report of their findings and recommendations with the Legislature, the Administration, DCR and the public. It will serve as a roadmap for improving access and increasing diversity, equity and inclusion on our public beaches going forward. 

 

“The legislative and community members of the Commission hope that this hearing will help us improve the beach experience for people who do not speak English as their primary language,” said Chris Mancini, Executive Director of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. “We are looking forward to working together with DCR, other state agencies, and our beachfront communities to develop strategies to improve access to these spectacular urban natural resources for people of all languages and backgrounds.”

 

For more information about the MBC or the hearing, please contact Save the Harbor's Executive Director Chris Mancini by email to mancini@savetheharbor.org or on his cell at (617) 909-6667, or their Director of Strategy & Communications Bruce Berman by email to bruce@bostonharbor.com or on his cell at 617-293-6243.

 

You can access this release in your language on this blog using the Google Translate button on the top left of your browser. As a reminder, there will be live translations in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian-Creole, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Mandarin.

Our Better Beaches Program was Better than Ever!

In 2021, Save the Harbor leveraged nearly $300,000 in 2021 DCR funding, 2020 retained funds,  and money raised through the Harpoon Shamrock Splash to award Better Beaches grants to 67 organizations, individuals and creatives. The 2021 Better Beaches grantees put on 188 free programs and events on our region’s public beaches in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy, and Hull.

In preparation for the 2021 beach season, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay convened a public meeting of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission about race and equity on the Commonwealth’s public beaches and used our findings to build a more equitable grant process. 

Based on the community’s feedback and Save the Harbor’s values, $40,000 of the 2021 Better Beaches funds were set aside to address barriers in access and equity that community members of color, folks with disabilities, and queer people experience on our region’s public beaches. 

We directly addressed the community’s request for more diverse music and food, additional mobility mats and beach wheelchairs, and free life jackets on our region’s beaches by allocating additional funds to new and existing partners with plans to meet these needs. We also continued the two Anti-Racism program initiatives founded in 2020, Harbor Healing and Beats On The Beach, and engaged more new partners than ever before, with 31 of the 67 grantees being new partnerships.

In 2022, we aim to make the process even more equitable by introducing elements of participatory budgeting. We will be asking for community input at every step of the process, following the mantra "Your Beaches, Your Voice, Your Choice!". We can't wait to ear from you throughout the process and see you on the beach next summer! 

Metro Beaches Commission and Advocates Call for Better Beach Access for People with Disabilities

On Tuesday, November 30, at 10:00 AM, the Metropolitan Beaches Commission and Save the Harbor/Save the Bay convened a Virtual Public Hearing focused on improving access for people with disabilities on the Commonwealth’s public beaches in Lynn, Nahant, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy and Hull.

“The legislative and the community members of the Commission hope that this hearing will help us better understand the challenges facing people with disabilities on the metropolitan beaches,” said Chris Mancini, Executive Director of Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay as the hearing began. “We are looking forward to working together with DCR - and all of you here today - to develop strategies to improve access to these spectacular urban natural resources for everyone.” 

Among those who testified at the virtual public hearing, which was Co-Chaired by Sen. Brendan Crighton of Lynn and Rep. Adrian Madaro of East Boston, were Stephanie Cooper, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Andrea Gayle-Bennett of Lynn, Third Junior Vice Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Department of Massachusetts, Kristen McCosh, Commissioner of the Boston Disabilities Commission, and Chris Mancini, Executive Director of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.

"For those of you who don't know me, I'd like to let you know that I use a power wheelchair due to a disability I acquired as a teenager," said Commissioner McCosh, who leads Boston's overall effort to ensure accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities. "But we don't all only strive for meeting bare minimum requirements. We strive for ideal accessibility, which really goes from accessibility to inclusion." According to McCosh, though there are still challenges to overcome, "we do have the political will and great staff and our city agencies and our state partners. The ADA was signed into law over 30 years ago. How can we go to the next step and really make sure that people with disabilities are included in every aspect of life?"

According to Acting DCR Commissioner Cooper, the pandemic "has taught us what we knew in our hearts: The critical importance of getting outdoors for our collective physical, mental and spiritual health." She underscored the Baker-Polito Administration's commitment to equity and inclusion, and pointed out that "DCR's Universal Access provides adaptive programming and equipment at our pools, skating rinks, beaches, of course, lakes and ponds. The idea is that everybody of all abilities can participate and enjoy themselves at our properties."

Investments in ramps, mobility mats and beach and floating wheelchairs
are critical to improving beach access for people with disabilities.

The Commission also heard from experts and advocates serving people with disabilities, including Tom McCarthy, Director of DCR’s Universal Access Program. Coleman Nee, ​​CEO of Triangle Inc., Kathy Lafferty, Executive Director of the South Boston Neighborhood House, Alex DeFronzo, Executive Director of the Piers Park Sailing Center in East Boston, Ellice Patterson, Executive Director of Abilities Dance Boston, and Andrea Gayle-Bennett, Third Junior Vice Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Department of Massachusetts.

Coleman Nee, ​​CEO of Triangle Inc. who has hosted "Beach:Ability" at Constitution Beach in East Boston as part of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's Better Beaches program partnership with DCR thanked the Commission and Save the Harbor/Savethe Bay for their leadership on this issue. "I cannot stress enough the positive impact on mental health and spirits of those who attended Beach: Ability...our program participants love the beach and they love the ocean," said Nee. "In truth, these beaches are public assets and they shouldn't only be available to the disability community during an event once a year, they should be available all the time. We need additional investments, we need more walkways and ramps, we need proper equipment, we need mobi-mats, we need floating wheelchairs at every beach, and we need all bathrooms and snack stands to be ADA compliant."

Ellice Patterson, Executive Director, Abilities Dance Boston said building cultural understanding is "just as important as the physical access and the equipment to enjoy these beaches. Diverse and disabled beachgoers shouldn't have to fight to explain themselves. We should be able to participate in these spaces like everyone else." 

 Alex DeFronzo, Executive Director of Piers Park Sailing Center, whose Adaptive Sailing program is a national model, stressed the importance of inclusive programming. "The hard infrastructure for making the beaches accessible is extremely important, but perhaps more important is the human infrastructure of actually programming the beaches and getting groups of people out there. When there are Better Beaches  or Universal Access programs running, that's when the beaches feel most welcoming, most successful and most inclusive"

Kathy Lafferty, Executive Director of the South Boston Neighborhood House agreed, saying "When we offer a program on the beach, we want everyone to be able to participate. That means getting on the sand, near or in the water, and not just on the pavilion to watch. We are in this conversation because we want to be a part of the solution”

Andrea Gayle-Bennett of Lynn, Third Junior Vice Commander of the Disabled American Veterans Department of Massachusetts, said that when accessibility to the beach is limited for those with physical disabilities, "It turns them into spectators instead of participants."

"No one should ever be prevented from sitting on a public beach on a summer day, hearing the crash of the waves or the call of hungry seagulls, especially not because of a disability, much less someone who incurred that disability in service to our country," Gayle-Bennett said. "Public beaches should be for everyone to enjoy."

As the hearing drew to a close, MBC Co-Chair Sen Brendan Crighton of Lynn thanked Save the Harbor/Save the Bay and the dozens of community members who took part in the hearing, saying "The powerful testimony we heard today will help shape necessary improvements on the Commonwealth's public beaches to ensure that these resources are always accessible for all."

MBC Co-Chair Adrian Madaro shared that sentiment. “Our state beaches are public treasures that belong to all of us,” said Madaro. “We need to advance environmental justice and center diversity, equity, and inclusion so that people of all backgrounds, conditions, and abilities can enjoy them for years to come."

The Metropolitan Beaches Commission welcomes public participation and will gladly accept written testimony from all interested parties. Please email your comments to rodriguez@savethe harbor.org.

For more information about the hearing contact Save the Harbor's Executive Director Chris Mancini by email to mancini@savetheharbor.org or on his cell at (617) 909-6667, or their Director of Strategy & Communications Bruce Berman by email to bruce@bostonharbor.com or on his cell at 617-293-6243.

About the Metropolitan Beaches Commission
The Metropolitan Beaches Commission is a permanent Commission charged with making findings and recommendations to the Legislature and the Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) on ways to improve the metropolitan region's public beaches. It was established by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2006 and is led and managed by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.  You can find more information about the MBC on Save the Harbor/Save the Bay's website, and download copies of our previous reports at https://www.savetheharbor.org/mbc-archives.

Late last spring the Commission decided to focus attention on ways to increase diversity, equity and inclusion on the Metropolitan Region’s public beaches, to improve access for people of color, people with disabilities, and people who may not speak English as their primary language.  In May, we heard from a diverse group of civic leaders and community members about ways in which we could increase diversity on the beaches and in our beach programming.

After the November 30th hearing on improving access for people with disabilities, in January of 2022 the MBC will hold a hearing on language barriers that affect public safety and enjoyment on our region’s public beaches.

Following that hearing, the Commission will host a Virtual Summit, at which they will present their preliminary findings to a broad and diverse audience of beach users to get their thoughts and input. Following the Summit, the Commission will share a report of their findings and recommendations with the Legislature, the Administration, DCR and the public.  It will serve as a roadmap for improving access and increasing diversity, equity and inclusion on our public beaches going forward.

For more information about the MBC or the hearing, please visit savetheharbor.org and follow the links to the MBC pages.