Massachusetts: Beaches that will be closed on July 4th

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With Independence Day weekend just around the corner and thousands of residents set to head to the coast, Massachusetts officials warn that not all beaches will be open to the public this Fourth of July. The Department of Public Health (DPH) announced Wednesday the temporary closure of at least 26 public and semi-public beaches due to water quality concerns.

The affected beaches are spread across the state, from coastal areas like Rockport and Gloucester to inland areas like Walden Pond in Concord and Upper Highland Lake in Goshen.

Why are they closed?

According to the DPH, the closures are due to elevated levels of bacteria detected during routine monitoring by local health departments. These levels can increase following heavy rains, harmful algal blooms, cyanobacteria, or combined sewer overflow events, all of which pose risks to water safety for swimmers.

Every summer, Massachusetts tests the water at more than 1,100 public and semi-public beaches. Testing frequency varies depending on the vulnerability of each site, and results are updated in real time through the state water quality interactive dashboard.

Beaches closed until July 2

Among the beaches currently closed for health reasons are:

• Walden Pond – Concord (DCR)
• Cochituate State Park–Natick (DCR)
• Dennison Lake–Winchendon (DCR)
• Mingo Beach – Beverly
• Magnolia – Manchester
• Ocean Ave – Salem
• Lulu Pond – Pittsfield (DCR)
• Magnolia Beach – Manchester
• Children's Island – Salem (both swimming areas)
• Peckham Pond – Saugus (DCR)
• Seth Pond – West Tisbury
• Owen Park – Tisbury

The Department updates information every hour between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., including weekends, throughout the beach season.

Recommendations

Authorities recommend that residents check the current status of their beaches before traveling, especially on holidays when high visitor numbers are expected. Swimming in contaminated waters can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, skin infections, and other health problems, especially in young children, the elderly, or immunocompromised individuals.

The DPH also noted that the closures are precautionary and temporary, and that many beaches may reopen in the coming days if water conditions improve after further testing.

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Fountain:

• Mass.gov
• Boston.com