Popular Cape Cod Beach Could Be Closed Through Summer

TRURO, MA — The temporary closure of Longnook Beach could stretch through the end of the summer, officials recently said.

Truro's popular beach spot is unique because of its surrounding bluffs, but that also means an inherent risk for patrons, and officials are initiating bluff safety evaluations that have closed the beach.

Truro officials first announced on the town website on June 25 that beach access at Longnook Beach would be closed.

"Beach access at Longnook Beach is temporarily closed while the pathway and adjacent dunes are evaluated for safety. The Town will continue to provide updates as they are available. The public is asked to avoid Longnook Beach until it is reopened," officials said at the time.

The town offered a lengthier update recently, stating that the beach will be closed as a "safety measure" as officials evaluate the bluffs after concerns surfaced about their stability.

"The evaluation process will involve a thorough examination of the bluffs and beach access. The primary goal of this closure is to ensure the safety of all visitors to Longnook Beach," officials said.

Though no official timeline has been set, Truro Town Manager Darrin Tangerman said in a Cape Cod Times interview the beach being closed for the summer is "very likely."

Longnook's steep topography and cliff views mean it's a unique place for locals and visitors to go, but it also poses unique safety risks periodically.

In 2005, the town closed Longnook for a period that included Memorial Day Weekend when cliff erosion posed a threat. In August 1973, an 11-year-old boy died when part of a 165-foot cliff collapsed, burying him under 20 feet of sand, officials said.

"While the dynamic conditions mean that some risk is inherent at Longnook Beach, the steepened slope of the coastal bank with areas that are undercut, areas of slumping, and collections of large rocks perched precariously above the footpaths and beach heightened concerns," they added.

This spring, Truro used a 60-foot long arm excavator and a loader to "moderate the slope of the coastal bank and establish pathways—a longstanding practice to address winter erosion, and while the efforts provided some access, they proved to be no match for the severity of erosion occurring at this location," officials said.

Currently, town officials have closed the parking lot and beach access to "avoid the potential for a catastrophic event that could result in injury or death."

Jersey barriers, fencing and signage have been posted in the area, and officials have established a monitoring plan that includes taking regular measurements of the coastal bank.

An alternative analysis that will review at least three approaches to access management will be conducted and will provide recommendations for balancing safety at and public access to the beloved beach.