Cape Cod Community Celebrates Major Groundbreaking In Resiliency Project

BARNSTABLE, MA — A major groundbreaking at a Cape Cod beach is just the first step in the process.

On Friday, the Town of Barnstable, alongside public officials and community partners, celebrated the groundbreaking of the Sandy Neck Beach Facility Long-Term Coastal Resiliency Project, a transformative initiative to protect one of Cape Cod’s most treasured natural and recreational assets from the growing impacts of erosion, flooding and climate change, officials said.

Led by State Senator Julian Cyr (Cape & Islands) and State Representative Steven Xiarhos (5th Barnstable District), public officials gathered in Barnstable for a ceremonial “first dig.”

"Today, we’re not just here to move a little dirt, we’re celebrating a bold step in our coastal future,” said Cyr. “Today what we are proving is we don’t have to choose between preserving what we love and adapting to our changing climate. The Sandy Neck Coastal Resiliency Project represents exactly the kind of smart, science-driven adaptation that coastal communities need."

Sandy Neck includes 1,438 acres of barrier beach that is approximately six miles long and, in some locations, up to half a mile wide, allowing public access to pristine dunes, maritime forests and beaches.

It is the Town of Barnstable’s only public beach on Cape Cod Bay, welcoming thousands of visitors each year for swimming, camping, Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) use, hiking and fishing. The facility also serves as a hub for natural resource protection and park management.

However, erosion of the primary dune system has increasingly threatened the main parking lot, while flooding from Barnstable Harbor has put the Gatehouse area at risk. Without intervention, public access, recreational opportunities and critical park operations would face severe disruption, officials said.

The long-term resiliency project will:

• Relocate the parking lot and Gatehouse inland to safer elevations.
• Restore and reinforce dunes both seaward and landward of the new facilities.
• Enhance the ORV entrance trail for improved safety and resilience.
• Re-naturalize the existing Gatehouse area to blend back into the coastal landscape.

Designed for a 50-year sustainable design life, the project balances public use, environmental protection and economic viability, officials said.

The project has been made possible through state and local partnerships, including funding support from the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Action Grant and the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Coastal Resilience Grant.

Construction will proceed in phases through May 2026. While some access limitations are expected, key amenities such as the Marsh Trail and ORV entrance will remain available during much of the construction period.