The Harvard town beach will soon be opening for the summer, offering residents a wide variety of summer fun activities. These include swimming, boating, fishing, volleyball, grilling, and the use of a playground.
Beach safety is supervised by the lifeguarding staff, which begins work July 2 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. In addition to ensuring safety, the staff also offers swimming and boating lessons. Swim lessons occur before noon while boating lessons have two time slots: one during swim lessons and one in the afternoon ending at 4 p.m. Kids of all skill levels and ages are invited to join the swim lessons, while those interested in boating may sign up to learn sailing, canoeing, or kayaking. Lessons are divided into three sessions (July 2–13, July 16–27, and July 30–Aug. 10), and signup is online at www.harvardparkandrec.org. These lessons are priced for affordability, at $40 for swimming, $75 for canoeing/kayaking, and $100 for sailing, per session. These prices are a fraction of the fees charged by private facilities, and families in need of financial assistance are invited to contact beach director Alexandra Luck. “We want everyone to be able to enjoy our programs,” Luck said.
There are some safety restrictions on swimming. Most notably, children are not allowed to use flotation devices while in the water. According to Luck, this policy is important because it prevents kids from swimming beyond their comfort zones and encourages them to learn how to swim. Additionally, swimming is limited to a small space between 9 a.m. and noon on weekdays, as swim lessons occupy most of the swim area.
Residents are also invited to rent boats, at a rate of $10 for the entire day. Rental is conditional on passing a basic swim test, which is necessary to ensure the safety of the pond’s patrons.
The beach’s two major events are the beach games, held July 4 after the end of the field events, and the July 27 bonfire.
The beach’s physical amenities include charcoal grills, a volleyball net, a playground structure installed in 2016, and bathrooms. The only food comes from the ice cream truck that arrives at noon on lesson days and 3 p.m. all days.
Those tired of wrangling cash may be glad to learn that the beach staff is modernizing its payment and record-keeping systems. Starting this summer, payment for all transactions at the beach will be done using an electronic system that accepts credit cards and keeps reliable records. By next summer, this system will also be expanded to include a revamp of the online registration system.
The beach is open from sunrise to 10 p.m., and a sticker is required to park. These stickers cost $50 for the entire summer ($25 for senior citizens) and can be purchased at Town Hall, online, or in person.
