Town leaders are now discussing the possibility of acquiring land for a new parking lot in several locations. The final recommendation will address the need for parking, beach access, and access to the homes at Squibnocket Farm.
Nearly six months after a Squibnocket Beach restoration plan was narrowly defeated by voters, a town committee that has been working to develop alternative proposals will deliver a progress report to the town.
Chilmark has reapplied for a major state grant to restore Squibnocket Beach after learning recently that the original award was in jeopardy. The selectmen have also approved $20,000 to fund cost estimates for alternative plans for the beach.
A major state grant awarded this year to the town of Chilmark to restore Squibnocket Beach may be in jeopardy because it was tied to a project that voters rejected at the annual town meeting in April.
The latest proposal for restoring Squibnocket Beach was presented to the town committee on Tuesday by the Friends of Squibnocket, a group that includes homeowners in the beach area.
Facing an unforeseen deadline for spending a major state grant, a town committee has stepped up the pace in the effort to restore Squibnocket Beach. The issue has been marked by intense environmental study and also politics.
The Chilmark selectmen this week added their voices to the growing body of opinion and research related to the town’s efforts to restore a portion of Squibnocket Beach.
Facing an October deadline to complete its work, a Chilmark town committee charged with independently studying the best way to restore Squibnocket Beach is midway through its fact-gathering mission.
Vowing to maintain an open and inclusive process, the group charged with finding an alternative restoration plan for Squibnocket Beach began met for the first time early Monday. Housekeeping items and broad discussion about the mission were both topics of interest.
Funding was announced Friday for three key projects: the restoration initiative at Squibnocket Beach in Chilmark; a pilot by the Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group to sow marshlands with ribbed mussels; and a project at Barges Beach on Cuttyhunk.
