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These Massachusetts beaches are closed as of Aug. 22
Before hitting the beach this weekend, check out this list of closed waterfronts.
Summer may be winding down, but there is still time to hit the beach. Just make sure you visit an open one. These 86 beaches across Massachusetts are closed as of Aug. 22 due to bacteria concerns.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health says bacteria levels tend to rise right after periods of heavy rainfall. Dirty runoff from the streets gathers excrement and other harmful bacteria in the sewers, which in turn can run into nearby bodies of water.
Swimming in unsafe water can potentially lead to a bevy of health problems. The most frequent and notable effects are gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea and diarrhea. When ingested, bacteria can also cause flu-like symptoms, skin rashes, and eye-nose-throat problems.
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It is unclear when the beaches will reopen. Water testing results take 24 hours, DPH says, so results typically come out the next day. For now, the department warns beachgoers to be vigilant and check its interactive beach water quality dashboard.
List of beaches closed as of Thursday, Aug. 22
Beaches with an * indicate beaches that were closed for over a week. Two asterisks (**) indicate the beach has been closed for more than two weeks. Three asteristcs (***) indicate the beach has been closed for more than 3 weeks. Beaches with a † indicate beaches that have been closed for more than one month.
Amherst
- Puffers Pond*
- Stanley St. swimming hole*
Ashby
- Damon Pond Beach†
Ashland
- Ashland Reservoir**
Barnstable
- Eugenia Fortes
- Kalmus Ocean
- Wequaquet Lake Town*
- Wequaquet Lake Yacht Club*
Beverly
- Mingo
- Obear Park
- Woodburty
Boston
- Constitution
- Malibu
- Savin Hill
- Tenean
Braintree
- Smith Beach*
Brewster
- Upper Mill Pond
Chilmark
- Squibnocket Beach
Clarksburg
- Mauserts Pond
Cohasset
- Black Rock
Concord
- Walden Pond†
Danvers
- Sandy Beach***
Dartmouth
- Moses Smith Creek***
Dennis
- Sea Street
Framingham
- Learned Pond Beach**
- Waushakum Beach
Franklin
- Chilson Beach
Gloucester
- Cressy’s
- Good Harbor Creek
- Half Moon
- Plum Cove
Grafton
- Silver Lake Beach*
Haverhill
- Plugs Pond*
Holland
- Collette Drive Beach†
Kingston
- Gray’s Beach*
- Rocky Nook
Lowell
- Merrimac River Bath House**
Lynn
- Kings†
- Lynn Shore Beach†
Manchester
- Black
- West Manchester
Medford
- Wrights Pond
Nahant
- Black Rock
- Nahant Beach**
Nantucket
- Sesachacha Pond†
- Washing Pond
Natick
- Cochituate State Park Beach***
North Andover
- Fyre Pond Beach*
- Stevens Pond – Center***
Northampton
- Musante Beach**
Oxford
- Carbuncle Pond†
Plymouth
- Nelson Park*
Provincetown
- Town Landing
Quincy
- Wollaston at Channing, Milton, Sachem Streets and Rice Road
Salem
- Camp Naumkeag†
- Children’s Island†
- Ocean Avenue***
- Willow Avenue**
Sandwich
- Scusset
Saugus
- Pearce Lake**
- Peckham Pond
Scituate
- Bassings Beach
Shutesbury
- Lake Wyola†
Southwick
- South Pond Beach*
Springfield
- Bass Pond**
Swampscott
- Fisherman’s
- Kings†
Swansea
- Cedar Cove Club
- Leeside
- Sandy Beach
- Swansea Town BEach
Templeton
- Beamans Pond†
Townsend
- Pearl Hill Pond Beach†
Truro
- Longnook**
- Noon’s Landing
Wayland
- Wayland Town Beach
West Stockbridge
- Card Pond Beach†
West Tisbury
- Seth’s Pond***
Westborough
- Lake Chauncy Beach**
Winchendon
- Lake Dennison***
Winchester
- Shannon Beach**
Winthrop
- Donovans
- Halford*
Worcester
- Shore Park**
- Indian Lake***
- Lake Quinsigamond-Regatta Point Beach***
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