Metropolitan Beaches Commission Archives
The Metropolitan Beaches Commission was created in 2006 by the Massachusetts Legislature to take an in-depth look at the Boston metropolitan region's 15 public beaches in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy, and Hull which are managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).
The Commission is comprised of elected officials and community, civic, nonprofit, and business leaders from Boston and the metropolitan region's waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities. Its work is facilitated by Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, which has served as lead consultant to the Commission since its inception.
In 2013, the Commission reconvened to examine the impacts of the reforms and recommendations made in its first report and issue additional findings and recommendations to better leverage these resources for residents in the future.
The Metropolitan Beaches Commission was made permanent in 2015. Each year the Commission holds public hearings at the State House and in waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities from Nahant to Nantasket, and issues an annual report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and to DCR.
The Commission is Co-Chaired by Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn and Representative Adrian Madaro of East Boston.
Download copies of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission's reports as well as other documents including hearing minutes, public comments, technical reports, and appendices on which the reports are based.
Materials From 2020
On May 20, 2020, the Metropolitan Beaches Commission held a virtual meeting for the legislative and community members of the MBC and the Department of Conservation & Recreation to share their concerns on how to keep the Metropolitan Region's public beaches safe and open during the Covid-19 pandemic. Click here to download the transcript.
Materials From 2019
Public Hearing Summaries:
MCB Hull Summary March 5, 2019
MCB Lynn & Summary March 19, 2019
MCB Dorchester Summary March 30, 2019
MCB East Boston Summary April 9, 2019
MCB Revere Summary April 30, 2019
MCB South Boston Summary May 6, 2019
MCB Winthrop Summary May 14, 2019
MCB Quincy Summary August 2, 2019
Materials From 2018
August 2, 2018 Metropolitan Beaches Commission Hearing in Quincy:
Quincy Hearing Summary
Save the Harbor/Save the Bay Presentation to the MBC on August 2, 2018
June 18, 2018 MBC Hearing at the Massachusetts State House Materials:
Agenda for MBC Hearing on June 18, 2018
Summary of Hearing on June 18, 2018
DCR Commissioner's Presentation to the MBC on June 18, 2018
Boston Globe Article "The State of State Beaches"
Materials From 2017
January 30, 2017 MBC State House Hearing
Agenda from MBC State House Hearing on January 30, 2017
Meeting Minutes from MBC State House Hearing on January 30, 2017
Boston Globe Op-Ed "A Public Treasure At Risk" by Paul Grogan and Patricia Foley
May 30, 2017 MBC Hearing in Lynn
Presentation to MBC at Lynn Hearing on May 30, 2017
Public Comment “Stickies” Summary from MBC Lynn Hearing on May 30, 2017
Older Reports and Documents
Download a copy of "Waves of Change"
the 2014 report of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission
Download a copy of "Beaches We Can Be Proud Of" the 2008 report of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission
Materials From 2016
Agenda for Metropolitan Beaches Commission Hearing on June 6, 2016
Media Advisory for the June 7, 2016 hearing
Materials From 2015
MBC Presentation for the Lynn and Nahant Hearing on November 7, 2015
Lynn and Nahant Hearing Summary
Lynn and Nahant Public Comments: "Stickies"
DCR Commissioner's Presentation to the MBC on October 26, 2015
Materials from 2014
Download a copy of "Waves of Change"the 2014 report of the Metropolitan Beaches Commission
Download a summary of the budget and operations analysis conducted for the Commission by the
CPA firm of Raphael & Raphael, LLP or a copy of their complete report and technical appendices
Download a list of the capital projects the Commission has proposed for the region's public beaches from Nahant to Nantasket.
Take an aerial video tour of the region's public beaches from Nahant To Nantasket
The Commission welcomes your suggestions. Please send them to info@savetheharbor.org
2013 Metropolitan Beaches Commission Public Hearings
March 18th, 2013 MBC Planning Meeting
MBC Planning Meeting Minutes, March 18, 2013
Hearing 1, April 8, 2013 -The State House, Boston
MBC Hearing 1 Agenda and Background
Hearing Minutes - April 8, 2013
Panel 1 – DCR’s Perspective
DCR Commissioner Lambert’s Testimony / Powerpoint
Panel 2 – Partnerships and Programming
Patty Foley, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, Hearing 1 Statement
Save the Harbor / Save the Bay’s Better Beaches 2012 Program Package
Save the Harbor / Save the Bay’s Youth Environmental Program Package
Carol Haney, Revere Beach Partnership, Hearing 1 Statement
Barry Welch, Quincy Department of Recreation, Hearing 1 Statement
Panel 3 – Water Quality and Beach Management
Dr. Judy Pederson, MIT Sea Grant, Hearing 1 Statement
Dr. Andrea Rex, MWRA, Hearing 1 Statement
Dr. Jim Shine, Harvard School of Public Health, Hearing 1 Statement
Water Quality Executive Summary
Hearing 1 Press Coverage
Metropolitan Beaches Commission looking for public feedback (Boston Herald)
Metropolitan Beaches Commission looking for public feedback (Telegram.com)
Metropolitan Beaches Commission Reconvenes (Boston.com)
Metropolitan Beaches Commission Reconvenes (PressEnterprise.com)
Metropolitan Beaches Commission Reconvenes (PR Newswire)
Metropolitan Beaches Commission Reconvenes (ElPasoTimes.com)
State beaches commission wants users' opinion of Nantasket (Hull Times)
Hearing 2, May 13, 2013 - The State House, Boston
Metropolitan Beaches Commission To Hold Public Hearings In Nine Communities This Summer
Community Hearings
Hearing 3 - Revere
Thursday, June 11, 2013 6-8
Jack Satter House, Revere
Agenda
Revere Beach Hearing Summary (2007)
Public Comments (6/11/2013)
Media Coverage
Boston Globe (6/16/2013)Residents Report Improvements
2013 Better Beaches Program Awards
Commission To Hold Hearing in Revere
Boston Globe 5/30/2013:
Commission weighs need for improvements to Hub's beaches
Revere Journal : Commission to Hold Public Hearing in Revere
Good Grades for Boston-area beaches, but concerns linger
Hearing 4 - Hull
Wednesday July 17, 2013 6:00-8:00pm
Mary Jeanette Murray Bath House 204 Nantasket Avenue, Hull
Meeting Minutes
Hull Public Hearing Summary from 2007
Hearing 5 - Lynn and Nahant
Tuesday, July 16, 2013 6:00-8:00pm
North Shore Community College, Room T-102
Lynn and Nahant Public Hearing Summary from 2007
Hearing 6 - East Boston
Wednesday, July 31, 2013 6:00-8:00pm
Orient Heights Yacht Club
Hearing 7 - South Boston
Tuesday, August 6, 2013 6:00-8:00pm
Curley Community Center
Hearing 8 - Quincy
Wednesday, August 14, 2013 6:00-8:00pm
Kennedy Senior Center
Hearing 9 - Winthrop
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 6:00-8:00pm
DeLeo Senior Center
Hearing 10 - Dorchester
Wednesday, September 25, 2013 6:00-8:00pm
BC High School
February 1, 2014 Regional Meeting
Download a PDF of the Feb 1, 2014 Powerpoint Presentation for review and comment
Download a PDF of the Community Summaries for review and comments
Regional Meeting Sticky Summary
Reports and Articles from 2007
Download a copy of the Commission's 2007 report
"Beaches We Can Be Proud Of"
Raphael and Raphael 2007 Metropolitan Beaches Budget and Operations Analysis
Boston Globe article from 2007 highlights the findings MBC’s report
Boston Globe editorial from 2007 on the value of the region's beaches
For more information on the Metropolitan Beaches Commission please contact
Save the Harbor / Save the Bay at 617-451-2860 or send an email to info@savetheharbor.org