Bathing Beach Season Uncertain, but Let's Hope!

By Carol Britton Meyer

Now that it's spring, with summer fast approaching, one's thoughts turn naturally to the Hingham Bathing Beach in anticipation of swimming, sunbathing, and picnics while enjoying beautiful views of the harbor.

But because of COVID-19, including concerns about large gatherings and social distancing guidelines set forth by the state, the Bathing Beach Trustees are uncertain as to how the season will unfold.

Beach plans are in the formative stages, "largely dependent on the overlying state regulations and getting the appropriate approvals at the town level," Trustee Alan Perrault said recently.

While working cooperatively with various town boards and Hingham Farmers Market organizers in planning for the upcoming season, the trustees were awaiting word from Gov. Charlie Baker about whether he would extend the state's stay-at-home advisory beyond the current May 4 date. That happened recently, when it was extended to May 18.

"In a perfect world we'd open sometime in July," according to Perrault -- but that's not a given due to the COVID-19 crisis.

In the meantime, let's hope things settle down enough so that beach lovers will be able to spend at least part of the summer at the bathing beach.

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