Hull Waterfront Access Study Unveils "Aqua Necklace" Vision for 168 Public Beach Access Points
Hull - August 20 - Hull officials accepted a comprehensive waterfront access study Tuesday night that identifies 168 public access points throughout Hull and proposes creating an "Aqua Necklace Public Park" to better connect residents to the community's seven-mile coastline. The study, conducted by Woods Hole Group and a nine-member Waterfront Access Working Group, recommends 36 priority sites for improvement and calls for a coordinated approach to managing what officials described as an extraordinary coastal resource.
The Full Story
The joint presentation by Woods Hole Group coastal engineer Mitchell Buck and Working Group co-chair David Kellem revealed the scope of Hull's waterfront access infrastructure, which includes everything from formal boat ramps to informal sandy paths, stairs over dunes, and access points through seawalls. The study was funded through Community Preservation Act money after the town received numerous requests from residents seeking improvements to neighborhood access points.
"I don't think there's another community that has 168 sites in a seven-mile long area like we do," Kellem told the boards, describing the access points as forming a natural "necklace" around Hull's distinctive coastline.
Woods Hole Group used scientific methodology to evaluate each site, assessing factors including access condition, ADA compliance, parking availability, flood pathway risks, and usage levels. The study revealed significant gaps in accessibility, with only six ADA-compliant locations in town, most concentrated around Nantasket Beach and DCR properties.
The Waterfront Access Working Group, formed in July 2024, took a more community-focused approach, conducting over 400 resident surveys and dividing Hull into four geographic areas for detailed site visits. Each subgroup identified priority sites, resulting in 36 total recommendations across the peninsula.
The top-ranked sites include Western Avenue stairs (Pemberton Point area), which received significant public interest and is described as being in "grave disrepair," and Malta Street access, where visitors to the Knights of Columbus parking area access the beach. Other priority locations span from the former landfill area, which the working group discovered offers "spectacular" views and osprey watching opportunities, to Priscilla Way near Straits Pond, which could provide the first real public access to that water body in years.
The working group emphasized that many improvements don't require major expenditures. Simple fixes include stenciling access points on roadway pavement to help residents and visitors identify available access, creating comprehensive mapping resources, and addressing basic safety issues at existing sites.
However, some priority sites require substantial capital investment. The Western Avenue stairs, Bradford Avenue access serving Allerton Hill residents, and several other locations need complete reconstruction of stairs, handrails, and support structures.
Select Board member Jason McCann noted the timing aligns perfectly with the town's capital improvement planning process, allowing waterfront access projects to be integrated into formal budget planning. "A lot of these waterfront access sites are really capital projects," McCann observed, emphasizing how the study provides the framework needed for systematic improvements.
The working group's "Aqua Necklace" concept envisions treating all 168 access points as components of a single public park system, similar to Boston's Emerald Necklace. This approach would bring coordinated management, unified signage, and consistent maintenance standards across all sites while potentially creating a tourism draw for visitors who could bicycle or walk between different access points.
Working Group member Susan Short-Green suggested exploring partnerships with local land trusts to protect the access points in perpetuity, potentially combining CPA funding with private fundraising and grant opportunities to create permanent protections.
The presentation also highlighted ongoing challenges, particularly around disputed access rights. James Street Landing was identified as a priority site, though one resident noted ongoing disputes about public access there. The working group acknowledged these complications while maintaining that resolving access conflicts should be a town priority.
Both boards unanimously accepted the comprehensive report, with Select Board Chair Irwin Nesoff calling it "an amazing job" that gives the town "a lot to work with." The full report and supporting GIS data are available on the town website for public review.
Why It Matters
Hull's waterfront access system affects every resident's ability to reach the beach, bay, and river areas that define the community. The study provides the first comprehensive inventory and scientific assessment of these access points, giving town officials data-driven priorities for spending limited CPA and capital improvement funds. For residents with mobility challenges, the identification of only six ADA-compliant access points highlights the need for systematic improvements to ensure equitable beach access throughout the seven-mile peninsula.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Adopt orders of taking for Beach Avenue properties at 31 Beach Ave and 33 Malta Street with $7,100 damage awards each. Outcome: Approved. Vote: 4-1. (Timestamp: 10:06)
Motion: Reappoint Greg Gray as Select Board representative to Beach Management Advisory Committee. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 41:10)
Motion: Support regional microtransit pilot program application. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 2:38:17)
Motion: Approve road closure for Strawberry Hill Chalk Fest on Halvorsen Avenue, August 30. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 2:41:45)
Motion: Approve annual Rotary car show at Nantasket Beach, September 14. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 2:42:22)
Public Comment
Property owner at 33 Malta Street opposed the eminent domain taking, stating the family has owned the property for 68 years and has cooperated with town requests including closing beach access and planting beach grass. Several residents commented on waterfront access priorities, with particular emphasis on James Street access disputes and the need for better coordination on improvements.
What's Next
The town manager will work with the capital improvement committee to integrate priority waterfront access projects into formal budget planning. Implementation could begin with low-cost items like access point stenciling and mapping, while major reconstruction projects will require capital funding through CPA or municipal budget processes. The microtransit pilot program application is due September 22, 2024.
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