As officials enforced new restrictions on beaches in Dennis for Fourth of July, another beach in the area reached maximum capacity.
Gates at the West Dennis Beach, located on the Nantucket Sound side, were closed and “there will be no more vehicles allowed into the lot for the time being,” the Dennis Police Department wrote in a Facebook post around 2:20 p.m. Thursday.
On the other side of the town, police were having to enforce new restrictions at beaches.
Restrictions for Mayflower, Chapin Memorial and Bayview Beaches were only implemented on for July 4, due to an increase in unsafe and dangerous conduct, such as fighting, assaults, vandalism, binge drinking, drug use and loud music, according to the Town of Dennis.
Since 2019, there has been “100% increase in beach-related calls for emergency service,” according to Dennis Police.
Restrictions include a parking ban in neighborhoods and businesses across or near the beaches, only access on the beach are for those who have a residential, seasonal, or weekly parking sticker and no alcohol consumption, drug use, overly loud music and unsafe behavior are allowed on the beaches.
While these restrictions are only enforced on July 4, the town stated that officials will evaluate the effectiveness of the new measures in place and discuss plans for the future.
In previous years, several service calls for Dennis Police were made, ranging from assaults to destruction of property, according to Dennis Township. In 2021, 387 calls were made; in 2023, 382 calls were made; in 2023, 459 calls were made.
MassLive reached out to the Dennis Police Department. But calls were not immediately returned.
