Cape Cod Sea Camps Properties
Project Goals
The project goal was to acquire the former Cape Cod Sea Camps to prevent them from commercial development and to provide for conservation, beach access, recreation and other community benefits and amenities.
Cape Cod Sea Camps Properties
The Brewster Select Board and Town Administration analyzed the possible acquisition of the former Cape Cod Sea Camps properties after the business ceased operations in Fall 2020. The properties offered opportunities for significant public benefits including conservation of land, coastal dunes, and wetlands; habitat and drinking water protection; beach access; a home for a community center; extensive recreational amenities; and community housing. Acquisition for public use was aligned with community priorities identified in the Brewster Vision Plan and resident feedback from other recent strategic planning initiatives.
Brewster residents gave overwhelming approval to the Town’s purchase of the two parcels at a Special Town Meeting on September 26, 2021, and a Special Election on October 5, 2021. The Town reached a negotiated settlement for the properties:
• $6M for the Pond Parcel: 66-acre parcel at 500 W. H. Besse Cartway that extends from Route 137 (Long Pond Road) west to Long Pond.
• $20M for the Bay Parcel: 55-acre parcel at 3057 Main Street (Route 6A) that stretches from Main Street north to Cape Cod Bay.
On an interim basis, the Town opened the Bay Parcel beach from July 2022 through Columbus Day to Brewster residents. The Town invited residents to submit beach name suggestions in April and over 500 submissions were received. The Select Board voted unanimously on May 23, 2022 to select the name “First Light Beach.” The name recognizes the long history of the area as the home of the Wampanoag people. “Wampanoag” means “People of the First Light.”
The Town is currently facilitating a public engagement process inviting input from all residents about potential future uses. To this end, the Select Board created two new advisory committees, consisting of 11 Brewster residents with diverse backgrounds. These committees are responsible for identifying existing conditions; developing short-term public access plans; assembling a public engagement strategy to ensure broad community input; identifying and evaluating potential partner organizations; and developing comprehensive long-term plans for Town Meeting consideration.
The landscape architect firm Reed Hilderbrand was hired in November 2022 to provide expert support and design guidance to the committees as the Town plans future uses of the properties.
We are excited to announce that the new Community Pool will be open to residents in Summer 2023. Pool passes may be purchased through the mail-in program or online from April 10. The Brewster Community Pool will be open from June 26 through August 15, 2023 from 7am to 6pm, except on Wednesdays when the pool will be open from 12pm – 6pm. The Recreation Department will also be offering programs such has swim lessons, water aerobics, and dedicated lap swim times. Please visit the Recreation Department website for more information and the pool schedule.
Video: Introducing the Pond Property
In order to educate the Brewster community about the pond property while safe and appropriate access is being determined, the PPPC has created a video, “Introducing the Pond Property” providing a virtual tour of the beautiful 66-acre parcel from Route 137 to the shores of Long Pond. The video can be viewed here.
Town Launches Sea Camps Planning Survey
On Saturday May 20, 2023, the Town of Brewster hosted the first of six public forums to help determine future uses of the former Sea Camps properties.
Following this forum, the Town is giving residents another opportunity to provide feedback by completing a short survey. Click here to access the survey.
Your input is important. It will inform next steps in the community planning process. This survey is open to all full-time and part-time Brewster residents. Please complete the survey by Sunday June 4.
Before completing the survey, please review informational materials about both properties provided to residents at the May 20 forum here.
Results from the first forum and this survey will be shared with residents at the second community forum in August.
To learn more, please review our Related Resources page.