Nantucket Beach Foundation Receives Smith Point Beach Property

Nantucket, MA September 24, 2004 -- Nantucket Beach Foundation, Inc. (NBF), is pleased to announce that it has received a donation of ocean front property on Smith's Point from Jocelyn Duffy and Paul Gemis. This property was donated with the goal of re-establishing public access to Smith's Point which has been closed for almost 2 years due to the effects of unchecked beach erosion.

NBF will now work closely with the various community, conservation and homeowner groups to establish a responsible plan to reopen Smith's Point. The lack of public access to this fragile part of Nantucket has been a significant loss to the year round, seasonal residents and tourist communities who have for decades enjoyed this pristine spot, famed for its unspoiled beauty, fishing, sunbathing and one of the best sunsets on the East Coast.

Currently, with over 90% of the Nantucket's beaches privately owned and with property ownership rights extending to the mean low water mark, public use and access has become a very serious issue on Nantucket. Public and private beachfront property owners concerned by overuse and the devastating effects of unchecked beach erosion have begun restricting the public's ability to access these beaches.

NBF, working with other island conservation and homeowners groups, is actively exploring and working to install new, innovative and responsible erosion abatement technology to begin the process of reducing or reversing the devastating effects of beach erosion. Our goal is to focus on critical locations that include the Town owned sewer beds in Miacomet, Millie's Bridge in Madaket, Sankaty Light in ‘Sconset and other sensitive locations.

"This is a positive first step for the Nantucket community to regain access to this magnificent area and we will be looking toward the community for assistance to help fund this worthy project." says Jonathan Betts, President of the NBF.

About Nantucket
Nantucket is an island 30 miles off the southeast coast of Cape Cod and is one of the most unique, historic, and visually stunning places in the world. The island known is an exclusive summer enclave for the well heeled captains of industry, celebrities and politicians. As with many other beachfront communities around the country, Nantucket is being faced with the loss of public beach access caused by erosion and other factors. As the islands beaches represent the one of most important driver of the local economy, having the beaches go private could be a devastating blow to the almost exclusively tourist based economy.

About Nantucket Beach Foundation, Inc.
NBF is a 501c-3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Nantucket's most priceless asset- its beaches. We are committed to responsibly protecting, restoring and preserving Nantucket's' endangered beaches as a permanent keepsake for current and future generations.

For More Information or To Get Involved Contact:
Jonathan Betts, President
Nantucket Beach Foundation
508-228-9654
www.nantucketbeach.org




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