NAHANT — Contrary to the widespread assumption among the residents of the surrounding areas that Nahant beaches are private, Town Manager Antonio Barletta explained that similar to other beachfront communities all five beaches in Nahant are free and open to the public, but it might be difficult to find a parking spot to enjoy them.
“Nahant has many beaches that offer a year-round opportunity for young and old,” invites the Town of Nahant official website.
Nahant beaches offer an open public recreational space, similar to a park. The five beaches that Nahant owns and operates are Black Rock Beach, also known as Doggy Beach, Canoe Beach, Forty Steps Beach, Short Beach, Tudor Beach, and “all of those are open to the public and tested,” said Barletta.
Those beaches are controlled by the Town of Nahant, he continued. However, Barletta said, there is very limited parking available at the beaches, and a resident sticker is required to park there.
Street parking in Nahant can be difficult. There are not enough street and off-street parking spaces for every Nahant resident, said Barletta, but it does not mean that Nahant beaches are private or totally inaccessible.
“There is a very limited number of parking spaces available in the Town of Nahant, less parking spaces available than we could even offer to Nahant residents,” said Barletta.
Street parking in the town is based on the signage, said the town administrator. The parking is allowed under the usual rules if there are no signs that parking is not allowed or that it is for residents only.
“Just follow the signage on the street,” said Barletta.
There is one beach in Nahant that non-Nahant residents can enjoy with fewer parking difficulties than the five beaches controlled by the town. Long Beach on the causeway, said Barletta, has open parking ability for all, because it is not controlled by the Town of Nahant.
“It’s public, and it’s controlled by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation,” said Barletta.
Long Beach is also known as Nahant Beach. The official DCR website says that the daily parking fee from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. May 14 through October 31 ranges from $10 for the residents of the state and $40 for non-residents.
“Resident and non-resident status is determined by the vehicle license plate,” the website says.
Street parking is available along Lynn Shore Drive, and at some locations, the DCR is accepting cash and/or credit cards, says the website, and that makes the beach even more accessible to the public.
For more information on activities and parking requirements at Nahant Beach, please visit https://www.mass.gov/locations/lynn-shore-nahant-beach-reservation.
Oksana Kotkina can be reached at [email protected].
