Recently learned about this public hiking and shoreline access in Rockport, MA, from this Boston Globe article about the pending litigation between a landowner and the Town of Rockport. Basically one lady is trying to shutdown access to the Atlantic Way, a public hiking and swimming spot in front of her house that has been used by locals for hundreds of years.
The deeds to each of the houses in this neighborhood specify that there are public rights of way between each house and in front of each house on the rocks for public use. We can debate the merits of government conservation land, however as a staunch believer in private property rights, I dearly hope that one rich person isn’t able to steal public land from the town via the courts. This really should be a cut-and-dry case in favor of the town, but money can have its way of bribing the courts.
I’ve seen a lot of crazy signs, but “No scuba diving [on my lawn]” is a new low for NIMBYism. I’ll tread lightly, but I suspect there is something severely unwell with this lady on Andrew’s Point.
The Atlantic Way is a real local’s gem in Rockpoint and I recommend checking it out if you are ever near Cape Ann.