The Parks and Recreation Department and Hopkinton Health Department are announcing the end of the official 2023 beach season.

The beach permit ended at the conclusion of the holiday weekend. The success of the season is attributed to the collaborative effort between the Parks and Recreation Department, Health Department and Lake Maspenock Preservation Association. During the 2023 permitted beach season, Sandy Beach was one of a few freshwater public beaches not closed for poor water quality or algal blooms. A copy of the Health Department’s annual report to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) will be available to the public as soon as it is submitted to the MDPH.

As the intensity of the sun decreases and we progress into Fall, the risk of algal blooms decreases. If visitors continue to maintain the beach free from animal droppings, collect waste when walking pets and follow best management practices as related to waterfront property maintenance during the off-season, similar water quality conditions can be anticipated in the future.

Though the beach will no longer be staffed with lifeguards and weekly water quality samples will no longer be collected for analysis, the beach grounds will remain open for public use.