Signs went up this season along the public road next to Cliff House Beach in Cape Elizabeth. Parking is now limited during summer months to those with Cape Elizabeth resident permits.

Jill Hoy of Stonington paints a coastal scene at Trundy Point in Cape Elizabeth in 2020 for an online auction to raise funds for the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

For the past several weekends, a police patrol car has idled along Reef Road by Trundy Point in the Shore Acres neighborhood of Cape Elizabeth. The officer explained that he was counting the number of vehicles parked by the beach, which is owned by the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust. The town has received some complaints from residents, he said, and is considering restricting parking there as well. This is not the first time residents of that community have sought to restrict public access to the beautiful public shoreline abutting their properties.

We have wonderful beaches in our community and a limited window of time in which to enjoy them – without a wetsuit, at least. I do not think someone should have to live in Cape Elizabeth to have access to Trundy Point, or in South Portland to park near Willard Beach, or in Portland to enjoy East End Beach.

Public streets and public spaces, especially those held in trust, should be open to the public. I encourage the town of Cape Elizabeth and the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust not to restrict access to Trundy Point.

Henry Frank
South Portland

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