Since 1972, my family has owned a house on the Vineyard and the beaches of Chappy became my home. A home was never about the physical structure but about the place we love, doing what we love and being with the people we love.

After participating in the latest Edgartown Conservation Commission meeting and hearing one of the private landowners state that they would file an appeal if the conservation commission approved the Trustee’s applications, I was completely disheartened. I knew that the appeal process could last up to two years before reaching a resolution.

Using the knowledge that I have gained as president of the MV Beachgoers Access Group, I have contemplated the far-reaching consequences:

1) The OSV accessible beaches of Chappy provide the only practical access to 35 per cent of the public beaches on Martha’s Vineyard, and a considerable 80 per cent of the public beaches on Chappy itself.

2) If OSV access of Chappy’s public beaches are eliminated, it will have the following economic impacts: Chappy Ferry revenue will be significantly impacted; demand for seasonal rentals and hotels would decrease; stores reliant on beach access will experience a significant downturn in business.

3) Based on the 2023 survey, 45 per cent of participants in the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Blue Derby fished the shores of Chappy. A decline in derby participation equates to a decrease in fall Island rentals and overall commerce, and a reduction in scholarships awarded to local students.

4) The restriction of access leads to an overload of visitors in other locations including Chappy Point, State Beach, Norton Point and South Beach. The walk-on access points on Chappy are not conducive to the elderly or disabled. Moreover, the primary access to bayside beaches is through OSVs, which poses additional challenges to access the calmer waters of the bay. These groups will have limited options for experiencing this beautiful landscape.

5) As beachgoers commonly carry chairs, coolers and umbrellas, their ability to travel any distance on the beach is limited. Consequently, the walk-on beach areas on Chappy will become overcrowded.

Access to the beaches on Chappy has a profound impact on a tremendous number of people, the local economy, the quality of life of residents and the quality of experience for visitors. In itself, OSV access isn’t a recreational activity; it serves as the sole practical means of access for almost half of the publicly accessible beaches on the Vineyard. It requires people to be responsible, and respectful. It requires that all of the laws, regulations and guidelines governing these resources are adhered to. It requires that the properties are actively managed.

Most importantly, it requires the town of Edgartown and the Trustees of Reservations to work together to create solutions that effectively address the needs of the community they serve.

It is time for our elected representatives in Edgartown to take decisive action. We need you to actively engage to secure an effective resolution to this issue. Otherwise, I fear that the very foundation of why many of us choose to live, visit, or operate businesses on the Island will be jeopardized.

Peter Sliwkowski is the owner of Larry’s Tackle Shop, and president of MV Beachgoers Access Group. He is also a full-time resident of Chappaquiddick.