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Staff member announces West Dennis Beach parking closure to protect piping plover chicks
Summary
Town staff announced the West Dennis Beach main parking lot will be closed to vehicles starting Wednesday, June 5 for about three to seven days so a temporary passage can be built for piping plover chicks; resident parking remains open and beaches will follow the summer schedule.
A town staff member announced that the West Dennis Beach main parking lot will be closed to all vehicles starting Wednesday, June 5 to protect piping plover chicks, and that the closure could last three to seven days. "The West Dennis Beach, main parking lot will be closed to all vehicles starting Wednesday, June 5," the staff member said.
The staff member said town crews will construct a temporary pathway to allow newly hatched piping plover chicks to access the beach while vehicles are excluded. "During this time, town staff will be constructing a pathway to allow piping plover chicks to access the beach," the staff member said. Once the chicks are safely on the beach, the pathway will be removed and the main parking lot will reopen, the staff member added.
The announcement cited federal protections for piping plovers. "Piping plovers are a protected species under the Endangered Species Act, and vehicles represent a threat to the chicks," the staff member said, explaining the legal rationale for the temporary closure.
Officials said the resident parking lot will remain open during the closure and asked visitors to use other town beaches. The staff member asked for patience and urged the public to "monitor the website for any restrictions," noting that more plover-related limits could follow.
Staff also outlined the broader summer operations: regular beaches will be open seven days a week through Labor Day starting Saturday, June 8; gates will be locked according to the summer schedule by police; permanent restrooms will be cleaned twice daily and locked at dusk; temporary rest facilities will be cleaned and pumped daily; and concessions opened the Saturday of Memorial Day and will follow the listed schedule.
The update concluded with a brief acknowledgement from the floor. The town did not specify enforcement details or exact reopening triggers beyond stating that the pathway would be removed once chicks reached the beach. Residents and visitors were directed to the town website for the latest restrictions and schedules.
