James Pond Preserve, a 13-acre parcel next to Lambert’s Cove beach in West Tisbury, opened last weekend after a long delay due to a state review process.
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank announced on Tuesday that it had significantly expanded its landholdings adjacent to Lambert’s Cove Beach for $8.4 million.
A property fronting James Pond and Vineyard Sound is the latest purchase by the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank in what is shaping up to be an active year for the public conservation organization.
Lambert’s Cove Beach will open to sticker holders this summer, but parking capacity will be cut in half, the West Tisbury parks and recreation committee decided Tuesday.
West Tisbury wants to make Lambert’s Cove Beach more accessible for elderly residents and people with disabilities. That’s the idea behind a subcommittee formed Tuesday night at the West Tisbury conservation commission.
Lambert’s Cove Beach, Seth’s Pond, Long Cove Pond and Tisbury Great Pond were all closed to swimming on Thursday after results from routine water testing revealed a spike in the bacteria enterococcus.
West Tisbury health agent John Powers said he expects the tests to be an anomaly and anticipated the beaches would be open again by today. He said the contamination at Lambert’s Cove may be in part due to a breach at James Pond.
A special town meeting in West Tisbury Tuesday night pitted the town’s humans against its dogs, as voters took up the divisive question of whether to continue to allow canines at Lambert’s Cove Beach in the summer.
“I don’t even go there anymore because the smell is so overpowering,” said Karen Overtoom. “I guess you have to decide whether the beach is for the people or the dogs.”
