Since 1972, my family has owned a house on the Vineyard and the beaches of Chappy became my home. A home was never about the physical structure but about the place we love, doing what we love and being with the people we love.
After participating in the latest Edgartown Conservation Commission meeting and hearing one of the private landowners state that they would file an appeal if the conservation commission approved the Trustee’s applications, I was completely disheartened. I knew that the appeal process could last up to two years before reaching a resolution.
Using the knowledge that I have gained as president of the MV Beachgoers Access Group, I have contemplated the far-reaching consequences:
1) The OSV accessible beaches of Chappy provide the only practical access to 35 per cent of the public beaches on Martha’s Vineyard, and a considerable 80 per cent of the public beaches on Chappy itself.
2) If OSV access of Chappy’s public beaches are eliminated, it will have the following economic impacts: Chappy Ferry revenue will be significantly impacted; demand for seasonal rentals and hotels would decrease; stores reliant on beach access will experience a significant downturn in business.
3) Based on the 2023 survey, 45 per cent of participants in the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Blue Derby fished the shores of Chappy. A decline in derby participation equates to a decrease in fall Island rentals and overall commerce, and a reduction in scholarships awarded to local students.
4) The restriction of access leads to an overload of visitors in other locations including Chappy Point, State Beach, Norton Point and South Beach. The walk-on access points on Chappy are not conducive to the elderly or disabled. Moreover, the primary access to bayside beaches is through OSVs, which poses additional challenges to access the calmer waters of the bay. These groups will have limited options for experiencing this beautiful landscape.
5) As beachgoers commonly carry chairs, coolers and umbrellas, their ability to travel any distance on the beach is limited. Consequently, the walk-on beach areas on Chappy will become overcrowded.
Access to the beaches on Chappy has a profound impact on a tremendous number of people, the local economy, the quality of life of residents and the quality of experience for visitors. In itself, OSV access isn’t a recreational activity; it serves as the sole practical means of access for almost half of the publicly accessible beaches on the Vineyard. It requires people to be responsible, and respectful. It requires that all of the laws, regulations and guidelines governing these resources are adhered to. It requires that the properties are actively managed.
Most importantly, it requires the town of Edgartown and the Trustees of Reservations to work together to create solutions that effectively address the needs of the community they serve.
It is time for our elected representatives in Edgartown to take decisive action. We need you to actively engage to secure an effective resolution to this issue. Otherwise, I fear that the very foundation of why many of us choose to live, visit, or operate businesses on the Island will be jeopardized.
Peter Sliwkowski is the owner of Larry’s Tackle Shop, and president of MV Beachgoers Access Group. He is also a full-time resident of Chappaquiddick.
Comments
We have been coming to the
Gayle and Steve Turowski New YorkWe have been coming to the Vineyard for over 40 years on vacation. We always bought a Preserve membership even though we would be there for tops 10 days in June. We always respectfully obeyed any signs, closures or bird activity. We would pick a spot at Wasque on the beach and set up for a peaceful relaxing afternoon. We loved the lighthouse and it also provided a porto-potty. It was a special place for us. But then the plovers started nesting earlier and earlier and later and later so closures didn't allow us to go to the areas we loved. We respected the closing of the Gut but were always able to set our chairs not far from the Lighthouse on the inlet side (not ocean side). We supported the Chappy ferry by going over as many times as we were able (weather permitting). We supported the Preserve by taking a whole year membership knowing we'd only be there a week to 10 days. So it was a very big loss to us when we could no longer access the Wasque area as that is the only place we preferred. And we loved going over the sand with our jeep. Always obeying the speed limits. So I really hope this gets resolved somehow to allow recreational OSV even if it means lessening the vehicles on the island. Since we always came in June, we did not know or see the summer traffic. I think if anything, the summer traffic needs to be addressed and not cut off everyone because of homeowners claiming the ocean, beach, people not obeying rules. If it has co-existed all these years, I hope some resolution can be made to allow it to continue. It's just a sad society when people today don't obey rules. It's happening on our roads let alone a pristine beach. So those are the people that ruin it for the others. And homeowners, claiming the ocean and it's beaches isn't right either. More patrolling may be needed to control any nefarious wrong doing. I truly hope for a good resolution in all this.
For 30+ years my family and I
Neil Coppola Brookfield CtFor 30+ years my family and I have been enjoying the beauty of the Vineyard, with Chappy as one of our favorite spots. My grandchildren may never get to experience the splendor of a sunset or sunrise at the Gut, or breaking schools of fish near the lighthouse because of a selfish few who seek to end historical access to the OSV trails serving the Cape Poge area. To the commissioners involved with this problem, I hope you will do the right thing. Thank you.
I couldn't agree more with
Robert Karpp ChappyI couldn't agree more with Peter.....
The saying “The beach is not
Chris TThe saying “The beach is not a place, it is a feeling” has a unique meaning to the beaches of Chappy. People come from far and wide to share in the experiences the beach can offer such as for a day of fishing, bird watching or just a leisurely day at the beach.
I have been visiting the vineyard my whole life and annually spend 2 weeks fishing the derby, primarily on Chappy. Last year the derby experience was different than it had been in the past by not having access limited north of the jetty’s. I can only hope that everybody involved finds a way to solve this issue in a way that everybody is satisfied. Is access is completely lost, the effects will be seen all over the island.
Heavens above, the elites may
James Hardin OBHeavens above, the elites may lose an opportunity to distance themselves from the common folk of MV.
Thank you for this thoughtful
Rich EdgartownThank you for this thoughtful piece Peter. To hear a that a Cape Poge landowner stated that they would file an appeal if they don't get what they want is indeed disturbing. It suggests a "heads I win, tails you lose" attitude that is neither neighborly nor amenable to public will. I urge the OSV abolishers to consider the 20,000 annual visitors who simply yearn for the peaceful solitude of Chappy. Can't we find a way to enjoy it together? Or will 35% of the Island's public beach now be solely enjoyed by the 11 Cape Poge landowners?
I am so saddened and
Lindsay Patterson allison ChappaquiddickI am so saddened and disheartened by the animosity this dispute has caused. I am saddened to think that I will, after close to 65 years of driving to Cape Pogue and to the Gut, no longer
be allowed to go there?How can that be? I still at 78 could take a few casts at the Gut. And, maybe I could catch a blue or a bass in the fast moving current there . I still could walk the outer beach, and I still could still dig enough clams for dinner… if only I had access. It is sad… and more than sad. It is incomprehensible. How can a few residents of Cape Pogue shut down decades of historic access? Shame on those who have shut down our ability experience one of the last truly wild and unspoiled places on the coast. That is…that is incomprehensible and that cannot be forgiven.
Thank you Peter for your
Ned Casey EDGARTOWNThank you Peter for your excellent letter. Fifty years ago I came here to paradise. I did not know anything about the island. I was 18 years old and stationed at Coast Guard station Menemsha. It didn't take long to see that the island embraced its surrounding waters, inlets and ponds not only to provide commercially for its residents through selfishness, lobstering, oystering and scalloping. But also to fish its shores by vehicles from Squibnocket Beach to Cape Pogue Gut. I bought my first jeep from old colony in Edgartown. I then had my first surf rod built by Jack Koontz at the Chilmark Chandlery. After secretly learning the art of surf casting from old greats like Danny Bryant, Jack Koontz, Whit Manter. I would see them unload their catch at the fish markets and constantly nag them of where and when they caught their catch. It was then that on my off days I was on the beaches. Chappy was my favorite. It was an opportunity to fish and make new friends, get out the clam rake or dip net for scallops. For me it turned into tradition. Meeting friends, making new ones. Sharing secrets of the catch on a late nights tide. Watching the sun come up on east beach then chasing the fish slicks up and down the beach. Trying to catch the first bluefish or bass of the year. Catching Bonito and false albacore at the gut in the late summer and early fall. It was tradition. We never had trouble or issues. We loved that stretch of beach and all it held. I still do. We all do. This is the tradition and lure of the island. This is why people come. This island is my home. Why would ones selfishness want to take that all away from us. Shame on those people.
It should read shellfishing.
Ned Casey EdgartownIt should read shellfishing. Not selfishness. Apologies for spell check.
Again, the ‘haves’ want to
Wesley Nagy ChilmarkAgain, the ‘haves’ want to keep everything for themselves, even though historically, it’s always been open to the public. Shame on them. The entire reason I bought a jeep was so I can get out there and fish the derby. I hope our elected officials get their act together and do what’s right for the public.!!!
Peter, your eloquent letter
Chris Kennedy ProvincetownPeter, your eloquent letter speaks to so many of us who have been fortunate enough to experience life on Martha's Vineyard. My adventure began on the Vineyard in 1988 when I was hired by The Trustees as their first Director for the Islands. For the next 32 years until my retirement I lived, breathed, and experienced the wildness of Chappaquiddick firsthand. I fought like hell for balance between nature and access, and I'd like to think we were all successful in that endeavor. It was accomplished by finding a middle path with our Cape Poge neighbors, the Trustees organization and our community leaders. The Trustees, our community leaders and yes, our Cape Poge neighbors are good people but we've lost our way. It's time to stop the silliness and get back on track! The Trustees' beach management plan can be improved. The Conservation Commission has the ability to mandate those improvements and needs to approve the two Trustees applications before it. And, perhaps most importantly our Cape Poge neighbors must realize that continued opposition to public access is wrong. Adaptation is what is needed when managing our ever-changing shorelines, not prohibition. Public OSV access along Cape Poge Bay should be limited to two hours each side of low tide which would once again allow fishing, shellfishing and enjoyment of this important public resource. Don't deny us the ability to responsibly enjoy this natural treasure. We can find some middle ground!
Who wins by filing these
John Piekos EdgartownWho wins by filing these nonsense legal filings and punishing appeals? It's obvious: the poge landowners, who are using their hatred of the Trustees as a thinly veiled excuse to justify those actions, when their real goal is to keep the public from accessing these beaches, beaches that we've accessed for over 100 years. Who loses? The Vineyard community, the recreation shellfishermen, Derby participants (and thus our local high school students scholarships!), fishermen, vacationers, the elderly and folks with limited mobility who can't walk 3 miles to the Poge reservation (though as one nonsense filing suggests, we could use horses or cross country skis - I'm not kidding, you can't make this stuff up!). Enough is enough - the Conservation Commission needs to approve these Trustee Notice of Intents this month.
Thank you, Peter, for your
Karen Cambray EdgartownThank you, Peter, for your thoughtful letter.
Unfortunately, there are several Poge residents gumming up the works in the permitting process and twisting the legal system to prevent historical public OSV access in order to create their own private sanctuary. It is ironic to me that some of these indivudals trumpet immigration rights, yet want to keep residents off the beaches that we have used for over 50 years. It is hypocritical, selfish and shameful. I hope the town and the cons com see through this charade.
I’m shaking my head as I
Tracy Morgan EdgartownI’m shaking my head as I write this because I’m not sure where to start. I’d like to say something, smart and meaningful in the hopes of sparking outrage and disbelief at the thought of losing access to this very special area of Chappaquiddick. I’ve been coming to the Vineyard since 1997 and fell in love with this beautiful island. All of the island is beautiful, but no one can deny the beauty, the raw beauty of Chappy. Since that time we have purchased a home on the island and have enjoyed the public access to all of Chappaquiddick both in season and off-season. We have fallen in love with the derby, and all that means to the fisherman, Islanders, businesses, and, of course, the scholarships! Our world seems to have turned upside down with those who feel entitled and empowered by their wealth and position to try to keep the public from enjoying that which has been set aside just for that purpose. I can’t imagine all of the changing seasons, passing by without access to this very special area. Please, work together for the good of all, not for the good and privilege of the few.
Sorry to take the other side
Mike B UpislandSorry to take the other side on this…..
Pristine environments/habitats need to be protected and preserved…..much like the national seashore on cape cod. There they took away private homes and eliminated most of the OSV access. The same needs to be done on Chappy for the same reasons. Once upon a time we could drive on the upisland beaches as well and thank god we cannot anymore….they are preserved forever. Cars, dogs, people impact this beach environment negatively. These places should be accessible on foot or through professional tours only. These private homes with septic systems and other damaging impacts should be removed. Just because people used to drive here does not mean that they have a right to going forward. Eliminatating OSVs and private homes represents progress and preservation.
Great letter. The selfishness
Thomas EdgartownGreat letter. The selfishness of a few property owners is sad.
That being said, it is my understanding that at least one of the property owners is prohibiting public access to the gut. The trustees should prohibit those landowners from using trustee property to gain access to their properties.
They can’t have it both ways!
The unreleased derby survey
Fisherman EdgartownThe unreleased derby survey data is misleading. OSV access is not needed to fish many of the fishing spots on Chappy. The Gut, East beach at the bridge, Fisherman's parking lot, Chappy point, Norton point---all accessible to hundreds of derby participants. How many of the 45% mentioned don't even use OSVs? Was that 45% of those who responded or 45% or all derby participants? It is unlikely that the derby would suffer if a portion of Chappy beaches were lost to OSV’s.
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