MA Opening 81 Beaches In Time For Memorial Day Weekend

MASSACHUSETTS — Swimming season starts in Massachusetts over Memorial Day weekend.

The state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will open 81 beaches across the state on Saturday, including popular saltwater spots like Revere Beach and freshwater areas like Walden Pond and Lake Cochituate.

DCR will also open 13 of the agency's 21 spray decks, which are mainly located in urban areas.

"Starting this weekend, I am excited to welcome families back to our parks and beaches and I encourage everyone to take precautions and follow posted signage when visiting our properties to ensure a safe and fun experience," DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo said in a news release Friday.

Many state beaches will get lifeguards as soon as Saturday and every weekend until full lifeguard staffing begins on June 17.

Still, state officials urged beach goers to be careful over Memorial Day and for the rest of the summer. The state has been offering big incentives to hire lifeguards ahead of the swimming season, but many DCR beaches will go unguarded until the season ends on Sept. 4.

Here are the beaches that will not have lifeguards over summer 2o23:

• Malibu, Savin Hill an Tenean beaches in Dorchester
• City Point and M Street beaches in South Boston
• Willard Brook State Forest, Ashby
• Ashland State Park
• Otter River State Forest, Baldwinville
• Hopkinton State Park Upper Reservoir
• Asnacomet Pond, Hubbardston
• Cochituate State Park, Natick
• Rutland State Park
• Wells State Park, Sturbridge
• Pearl Hill State Forest, Townsend
• Lake Dennison Recreation Area campers beach, Winchendon
• Sandy Point, Ipswich
• Lynn and Kings beaches, Lynn Shore Reservation
• Harold Parker State Forest beaches, Andover
• Winthrop Shores Reservation, Short and Winthrop beaches
• Pecham Pond, Saugus
• Boston Harbor Islands State Park
• Nickerson State Park, Brewster
• Myles Standish State Forest, Carver area
• Demarest Lloyd Beach, Dartmouth
• Washburn Island Camper's Beach, Falmouth
• South Cape Beach, Mashpee
• Myles Standish State Forest, Plymouth areas
• Watson Pond State Park, Taunton
• Massasoit State Park, Taunton
• Beartown State Forest, Monterey
• Mohawk Trail State Forest, Charlemont
• DAR State Forest Campers Beach, Goshen
• Pittsfield State Forst Lulu Pond
• Clarksburg State Forest
• Savoy Mountain State Forest
• Tolland State Forest, Otis
• Robinson State Park, Agawam
• Sandisfield State Forest

See a full list of all DCR shore and inland beaches and their lifeguard status here.