A waterfront state park that was severely damaged by the back-to-back coastal storms in January has partly reopened, but one section still remains closed as the state works on repairing access to its northern beach.
Reid State Park in Georgetown saw the most damage out of the state park system from the January storms. Some dunes were flattened, and at the northern end, the boardwalk and stairs on Griffith Head were wiped out, said park manager Haylee Parsons. Trees were downed, and debris from the ocean was deposited all over picnic areas.
The damages at the midcoast park totaled about $250,000, according to Parsons.
But after a month of cleanup, the park service reopened trails and Todd’s Point — near the southern end of the park — on Feb. 14, Parsons said. While Todd’s Point is usually closed during winter, the park service wanted at least part of the area to be open.
“It’s a little bit different this year, opening that side, but that side had the safer access to get onto Mile Beach,” Parsons said.
For now, the park service is working on repairing the access to Griffith Head so people can access the beach there. Without the stairs and boardwalk across the dunes, it’s a steep drop to the beach.
Long term, Parsons said the park service is working to develop a more sustainable and accessible way for people to get to the beach without having to build over the dunes. That could mean beach mats and concrete steps instead of boardwalks.
“Whatever we’re doing, we want to make sure that it’s inclusive and accessible to everyone,” Parsons said.
Parsons did not know when repairs will be finished, but hopes it will be in time for summer.
