Elevated E-Coli Closes Sharon's Memorial Park Beach To Swimming

Swimming at Sharon's temporarily is prohibited, two weeks before the summer hot spot closes for the season.

The Sharon Board of Health ordered the Beach Street recreation site closed to swimming Thursday after elevated E. coli bacteria levels were found in a Lake Massapoag water sample taken nearby.

A sign at the resident-only beach notes the restriction.

Sharon's , across the lake near the Sharon Community Center, remains open. Non-residents can only use this beach, although residents may use it as well.

The beaches close on Labor Day.

A Massachusetts Department of Public Health fact sheet defines E. coli as "germs that normally live in the bowel of people and animals. Most strains of this germ are harmless, but the strain called E. coli O157:H7 can make people sick."

"The most common symptoms are severe stomach cramps and diarrhea," the fact sheet says.

Elevated E. coli levels closed Community Center Beach twice this summer: on June 28, and the beach reopened June 30; and July 7, with the beach reopening July 8.

Elevated E. coli also closed the waterfront at , on July 6. The waterfront reopened July 7.