With state parks and beaches in disrepair, Gov. Deval Patrick detailed a revitalization plan yesterday that includes the hiring of at
least six year-round beach managers and the use of annual report cards
to grade the state’s maintenance effort.
“Our
metropolitan beaches are vital state assets, and they deserve
year-round attention,” Patrick said. “We will also strengthen our
efforts across the state at beaches like Salisbury, Scusset and
Horseneck.”
The
renewed effort to improve beaches will include the use of new
recreational equipment and beach-cleaning technology, such as
solar-powered “Big Belly” trash compactors and motorized surf rakes to
clean sand.
Environmental
activists yesterday lauded Patrick’s plans as a step forward, but added
that years of neglect can only be reversed with a dedicated stream of
money to repair crumbling beach facilities.
“Anyone
who has visited these places recently will tell you they can see the
decay that has resulted from this underinvestment,” said Frank Gorke,
director of Environment Massachusetts. Gorke said though much remains
to be done, Patrick’s interim measures will help improve operations at
beaches statewide.
He
and other activists said the focus remains Patrick’s plan for his
capital budget, which will include billions of dollars to repair and
upgrade facilities across the state. Patrick has already said he will
increase the state’s borrowing limit by hundreds of millions of
dollars, but how much of that will go to parks and beaches is unclear.
