Popular Beverly Beach Closed For Holiday Weekend

BEVERLY, MA —West Beach will be closed over the July 4th weekend, after the beach's board of directors decided social distancing would not be possible.

In a Facebook post, the board said no one would be permitted on the beach and security would be manning the gate to West Beach. The news comes after an earlier announcement that most holiday activities had been canceled in Beverly because of the coronavirus, including the West Beach fireworks and the Horribles Parade.

A house decorating contest, which was originally to have been expanded to make up for canceled events, has also been scrapped. "We are sorry to have to add this event to the long list of cancellations that have happened recently, but we are determined to be back next year with a full slate of events and a terrific 4th of July celebration," the Farms-Prides 4th of July Committee said in a social media post.

Previously on Patch: Beverly's 4th Of July Fireworks 2020 Canceled

In May, Beverly officials closed Rice's Beach after two calls in two days to police about overcrowding. When police arrived, they found large groups of people sitting together, hugging, wrestling and playing organized ball games. All of those activities are prohibited under Baker's order.

Dave Copeland covers Beverly and other North Shore communities for Patch. He can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).