People hoping to beat the heat this Labor Day weekend will have to stay out of the water at several state parks due to unsafe swimming conditions
Numerous popular watering holes were not open to the public for swimming as of Saturday morning. The majority of the more than 70 closures were due to excessive bacteria levels in the water, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Interactive Beaches Dashboard.
The dashboard, which is updated twice a day, once in the morning and again in the afternoon, provides water quality testing results for the current beach season in Massachusetts. The online tool shows a list and map of all the beaches that are open or closed in the commonwealth.
“If a beach is closed, do not swim or enter the water at that location to avoid risk of illness,” the dashboard says.
In Boston, parts of Carson, Constitution, Malibu, Savin Hill and Tenean Beach were closed due to what the dashboard labeled “bacterial exceedance,” and in Worcester, the Lake Park beach at Quinsigamond State Park was closed for the same reason.
Across the state, other popular beaches that were closed included the main beach at the Ashland Reservoir in Ashland State Park, the main beach at the Hopkinton Reservoir in Hopkinton State Park, parts of Nahant Beach, the main beach at Cochituate State Park in Natick, sections of Revere Beach, the Juniper Point beach in Salem, Morses Beach in Wellesley and more.
Eighty-one beaches and waterfronts were opened to the public for swimming in Massachusetts starting Memorial Day weekend, with the state Department of Conservation and Recreation urging people to take precautions when on or near waterbodies and pool facilities.
“DCR works, every year, to make our waterfronts and pools as safe as possible for visitors seeking relief from the summer heat,” DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo said at an event at Revere Beach in late May. “I encourage everyone to take precautions and follow posted signage when visiting our properties to ensure a safe and fun experience.”
View the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Interactive Beaches Dashboard below.
