The Metropolitan Beaches Commission was established by the Massachusetts Legislature in 2006 to:

- Take an in depth look at each of the region’s beaches
- Identify the current conditions on each beach
- Identify the best management practices across the region
- Make recommendations that would bring our beaches to their fullest potential as significant recreational and economic resources, ultimately improving the quality of life for residents and visitors, and strengthening our capital city and the region.

In Spring 2007, the MBC released their report with findings and recommendations, titled "Beaches We Can Be Proud Of".

In addition to the core report document, there is a wealth of appendices, organized by topic below.

For recent developments on the beaches, visit the Newsroom.

Beaches We Can Be Proud Of

Metropolitan Beaches Commission Report [1,383 KB]
Metropolitan Beaches Budget & Operations Analysis Report [143 KB]

INFORMATION FROM PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Discussion List of Comments [301 KB]
Public Discussion Summaries [66 KB]
Executive Summaries from Public Hearing Minutes [105 KB]
Local Issues [10 KB]
Community Specific Issues [26 KB]
Supplemental Hearings:
- EOEA/DCAM/AFSCME Summary [36 KB]
- Youth Focus Group Summary [17 KB]
- Boston Harbor Island Beaches and Water Transportation Summary [14 KB]

WATER QUALITY
MWRA Beaches Water Quality Report [1,701 KB]
Draft Water Quality Analysis For Each Beach [314 KB]
Nuisance Algae:
- Nahant Bay and Broad Sound Algae Task Force article [303 KB]
- MIT Tech Talk Article [26 KB]

ABOUT THE BEACHFRONT COMMUNITIES
Beach Descriptions and History [734 KB]

BEACH COMPARISONS
Beach Research Summary (3 pages) [31 KB]
Beach Research (8 pages) [70 KB]
Beach Research Source Documents (135 pages) [8,619 KB]

MANAGEMENT MODELS AND FRIENDS GROUPS
"Back to the Beaches" Plan for the Future of Boston Harbor Beaches: Implementation (1993) [1,957 KB]
Piers Park Memorandum of Understanding [2,228 KB]
Revere Beach Partnership Planning Report (2002) [850 KB]
Revere Beach Partnership Accomplishments (2006) [1,980 KB]

RELEVANT PARKS ARTICLES
State House News Service Article, "Lawmakers Sound Off, Say Constituents Angry About State Of Parks System" December, 2006 [21 KB]
Boston Globe Article, "Green Sweep" August, 2006 [84 KB]

BUDGET AND OPERATIONS ANALYSIS APPENDICES
Appendix C: DCR Organizational Chart [59 KB]
Appendix D: Summary of Bureau Services Responsibilities [358 KB]
Appendix G: DCR Finance Overview [564 KB]
Appendix H: Sample page MA State Expenditure Classifications [121 KB]
Appendix I: DCR Workplans [555 KB]
Appendix J: Waterfront Equipment by Item Region [959 KB]
Appendix N: 2006 DCR Annual Report [1,208 KB]
Appendix P: Dedicated Patrols Expenditures 2003-2007 [296 KB]
Appendix Q: Current Plan Seasonal Staffing [159 KB]
Appendix R: Optimal Scenario Seasonal Staffing [162 KB]
Appendix S: Optimal Scenario Net Additions to Seasonal Staff [153 KB]
Appendix T Part 1: DCR Waterfront Standards [2,260 KB]
Appendix T Part 2: DCR WaterfrontStandards2 [2,294 KB]