Metropolitan Beaches Commission Reconvenes To Examine Area Beaches From Nahant To Nantasket

BOSTON, April 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Metropolitan Beaches Commission (MBC) has reconvened to assess the state of the Boston Harbor region's public beaches and held its first public hearing, Monday, April 8, 2013. The Commission, originally established in 2006 by the Massachusetts Legislature, will examine the impacts of the reforms and recommendations made in its first report and make recommendations for further improvement under the leadership of co-chairs State Senator Tom McGee and State Representative Kathi-Anne Reinstein. There will be a second public hearing in May 2013, followed by a hearing in each of the nine communities from Nahant to Nantasket beginning in June 2013.

"These public hearings will give the region's residents an opportunity to share their ideas about how to improve our region's public beaches, and give the Commission the chance to assess where we are today and where we hope to go in the future," said Commission Co-Chair Senator Tom McGee. "Working together, I am confident that we can protect what we have accomplished since 2007 and help move these beaches from good towards great."

The Commission was created in 2006 to take an in-depth look at the Commonwealth's public beaches managed by the DCR. This year the Commission will issue additional findings and recommendations to better leverage these resources for all the residents of the regions' coastal communities in the future. As in 2006, the Commission will hold nine public hearings in the towns of Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Winthrop, East Boston, South Boston, Dorchester, Quincy, and Hull. The hearings and final report will further identify and showcase economic development opportunities for local communities made possible by public investment in clean water, better beaches and our waterfront neighborhoods and beachfront communities.

"We've made great strides on these beaches for all the region's families," said Commission Co-Chair Representative Reinstein. "They have truly benefited from public and private sector investments in our beaches and it's important that we don't lose the progress we have made."

The Metropolitan Beaches Commission is comprised of elected officials and community, civic, nonprofit, and business leaders from across the region. The 2013 MBC Commissioners are:

Co-Chair Thomas McGee, State Senator, Third Essex

Co-Chair Kathi-Ann Reinstein, State Representative, Sixteenth Suffolk

Carlo Basile, State Representative, First Suffolk

Kip Becker, Boston University

Barbara Bishop, Speaker DeLeo's Office

Garrett Bradley, State Representative, Third Plymouth

Nick Collins, State Representative, Fourth Plymouth

Mark Cullinan, Nahant Resident

Paul Grogan, The Boston Foundation

Douglas Gutro, Quincy City Council

Carol Haney, Revere Resident

Robert Hedlund, State Senator, Plymouth and Norfolk

Bradford Hill, State Representative, Fourth Essex

John Keenan, State Senator, Norfolk and Plymouth

Manny Lopes, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center

Chris Marchi, East Boston Community Advocate

Joan Meschino, Hull Resident

Paul Nutting, Savin Hill Shores

Daniel O'Connell, Massachusetts Competitive Partnership

Samantha Overton, Department of Conservation and Recreation

Anthony Petruccelli, State Senator, First Suffolk and Middlesex

Robert Tucker, Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach

"The Commission has made a big difference on these beaches, which belong to all of us," said Patty Foley, president of Save the Harbor / Save the Bay, which will once again help to lead and manage the inquiry. "The findings and recommendations the MBC made in 2007 have served as a blueprint for improved management of beaches and parks across the Commonwealth. These hearings are a great way for people who love their beach to get involved."

For more information about the MBC visit www.savetheharbor.org or follow us on Twitter @MetroBeaches.

Rick Stockwood, 1-617-953-0178, [email protected]

SOURCE Metropolitan Beaches Commission