To Beach or Not To Beach, That is the Question...

The Indian Summer we've been having has extended my summer activities in a major way.  A friend of a friend had a big tag sale on the island a few weeks ago, and I inherited quite a few big floppy hats, straw tote bags, breezy linen shirts and other trappings of beach-going that I thought I might have to table, until next year. But the past three or four days have given me a chance to put them in action.  While my Sunday was spent mostly hiking at Sepiessa Point, Columbus Day found me, along with hundreds of other visitors and Islanders alike, at the beach.

Walking the toe path up from Lucy Vincent, back toward the parking lot, I fell into sandy step with a small group of tourists, talking amongst themselves about the Island.  I always find it interesting to eavesdrop a LITTLE bit, and hear the outsider perspective on our beautiful home, and this opportunity proved to be no different.  Since I didn't have my stenography kit with me as we trudged away from the surf, I'll just have to paraphrase the conversation for you.

Their big complaint was with private roads and beaches, being that those towns and neighborhoods who require stickers or keys to enter, are hiding their treasures away from the public.  And while I don't know if they realize they were ON one of those beaches, as Lucy is somewhat exclusive during the summer season, I can't help but wonder if they're not mostly right. Being a resident of Chilmark, I have access to a few beautiful beaches, and while yes, I think opening these town beaches for public access might be a mistake, I also have to ask myself: How can we keep these natural wonders to ourselves?  

And the private beach situation is just where the "problem" starts. The Land Bank, as many of you know, takes a percentage of many home/property sales here on the Island, and in return, they buy and maintain many, many parcels of land, which are repurposed and maintained for walking paths, hiking trails and the like.  As their operational costs for land parcels and maintenance of existing preserves come from the residents themselves, you'd think that the Land Bank would be forthcoming with information about how to enjoy their hard work.  On the contrary, if you don't have a map and an eagle eye for those little green sign posts, you could pass right by these gorgeous trails and never even know they're there.  They are not well publicized, and the Land Bank is eager to keep it that way.  If you do happen to have the goods on a particular trail, you might not even be able to walk, swim or otherwise enjoy.  Many of the Land Bank's locations have parking ony for 3-4 small cars. 

I understand that many of the Land Bank's properties abutt private residences. If too many people came, it certainly could disturb the peace.  But as long as walkers are respectful, clean and quiet (as all of the signage requests them to be), I don't see where the problem is. Just like the concept that enough moola can buy you a deed to Quansoo, who among us TRULY owns this island?  Who among us is right to say, "This land is my land, NOT your land, getoffa my beach!"  Not I, said the little red hen...

What do you think?