Chatham Beaches To Close Early Over July 4 Holiday; Police Will Be At Parking Lots To Discourage Illegal Parties

CHATHAM – In an effort to stop unruly parties from spilling over onto the town’s beaches, Nantucket Sound beaches and Lighthouse Beach will close one hour earlier than usual over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

 Uniformed police officers will be posted at parking lots along south-facing beaches and Lighthouse Beach, which will close at 9 p.m. rather than the usual 10 p.m. closing time on July 4, 5 and 6.

 “This might upset some people in town, but I think it’s for the greater good,” Chief of Police Michael Anderson told the select board June 10. Last summer, he added, police were “playing defense” trying to keep up with unauthorized beach parties. Because the department’s ranks can be stretched thin on the holiday, there were sometimes just one or two officers responding to illegal parties with hundreds of people, he said.

 In recent years neighboring towns have closed public beaches during the July 4 holiday, which has led to gatherings moving to Chatham, Anderson said. This has been facilitated by social media, where news of parties can swiftly reach hundreds of people from all over the region. The result has been an increase in illegal gatherings and incidents of public intoxication, underage drinking, vandalism, fights, noise, illegal fireworks and damage to beaches, he said.

“We’re already answering these types of calls,” Anderson told the board. “They’re already happening.” 

 Except with permits from the park and recreation commission, gatherings on public beaches are limited to no more than 10 people, according to the town’s beach regulations. Open fires and alcohol are also prohibited on town beaches. 

Last July 4 a massive party on North Beach Island promoted on social media led to people being charged with public drunkenness, lewd conduct, littering and other infractions. Breaking up the gathering was “a logistical nightmare,” Anderson said, and involved calling in the state environmental police. North Beach Island doesn’t fall under the beach closure plan because of its remoteness; regulations limit gatherings to no more than 20 people without a permit from the police chief.

“It’s not a big ask,” he said of the change in hours. “They already close at 10 o’clock. We’re just asking if we can bump it up an hour,” Anderson said. The timing allows beachgoers to have an evening stroll or enjoy the sunset, and anyone fishing will be allowed on the beaches. “Most of the nonsense happens after dark.”

 Both the park and recreation commission and the select board approved the early beach closure plan. Officers will be stationed at the parking lots at Harding’s Beach, Ridgevale Beach, Cocke Cove Beach, Forest Beach and Pleasant Street Beach. The Lighthouse Beach overlook will remain open for parking, but the stairs and paths to the beach will be closed, according to Anderson.

 He indicated that beaches may close early on other dates during the summer if warranted. 

 Select board member Shareen Davis asked about monitoring east-facing beaches like Jackknife Cove. Many of those areas have smaller parking lots or are visible from main roads, and large gatherings or beach fires can be easily spotted, Anderson said.

 Trying to patrol 66 miles of coastline is “a significant chore in resources and personnel,” said board member Stuart Smith. “I’m a little concerned on that.” Anderson said he could not put a figure on the cost of patrolling beaches, but added that police detail and overtime funding increased this year.

 “I can absorb easily the increased police presence,” he said.