As another season draws to a close at Moody Beach, we mourn that this summer once again brought the appearance of multiple “Private Beach” signs, angry beachfront homeowners confronting the public and visits from the Wells Police. What once was a peaceful shoreline, where we spent summer days with our families playing Frisbee, building sandcastles and relaxing on the sand, has become a hotbed of contention over who can use the beach: private property owners or we, the people.

The current lawsuit challenging the transfer of public shorefront to private owners recently succeeded in defeating an unfounded legal challenge by the defendants. The case will now proceed to litigation. We hope the state of Maine will correct its erroneous 1989 decision and once again allow all American citizens, and not just the few who own beachfront property, our constitutional right to recreate on Maine beaches.

In the meantime, we remind the town of Wells that the town of Kennebunkport successfully challenged private ownership of Goose Rocks Beach and returned such rights to its citizens. We urge the state’s highest court to return to all of us – the residents, taxpayers, renters and visitors who support the town economy year after year – our basic right to enjoy the beach in Wells.

Jeanne Connerney
Wells