Photo by Lester Smith
Beachgoers enjoy the water and the sand on a quiet, very warm Sunday afternoon in mid-July. The Town beach extends down to where the docks fill the shoreline along Middle Pond at Lake Congamond.
In the two months since that busy volunteer Saturday when clean-up and painting at Babb’s Beach was accomplished, work has continued. At press time it was uncertain whether the Town’s goal of opening officially in August would be achieved, but it seemed possible.
The access road and handicapped parking space have been graded, and road surface millings from the Town highway resurfacing project were spread and packed on the new surfaces. Sturdy gates have been installed at the top of the road, and at the bottom, as well, to control driving on the beach.
The old stage above the beach south of the big rink has been replaced with a larger, new one. The steep ramp and adjacent stairway and railings from the stage area down to the beach, all in very bad condition, have been removed, and a new stairway is planned. A spot behind the retaining wall next to the beach has been graded, and two large picnic tables have been installed there.
The beach itself has been raked and filled at the retaining wall with additional sand. In late July three buoys were anchored to mark a safe swimming area in front of a newly installed lifeguard tower. Gerry Crane of Citizens Restoring Congamond (CRC) advises that the Southwick Scuba team has scoured the bottom there to check for hazards.
And, in a delightful enhancement to the region, the slope above the beach has been cleared of brush, and dozens of flowering plants have been set among the zig-zag rock retaining walls. Before the severe summer drought set in, the slope was looking lovely.
Town commissions have discussed the matter of beach fees, with different fees for town residents, out-of-towners, and out-of-staters. Perhaps CRC members, many of whom have participated in the restoration of Babb’s Rink and the beach clean-up project, will be given a category.