By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
West Haven is home to one of the best beaches to visit in New England, according to Globe Magazine, published by The Boston Globe and Boston Globe Media.
West Haven, specifically the Sandy Point Beach & Bird Sanctuary, was ranked 11th out of “The 20 best beaches to visit in New England,” according to an article written by Patricia Harris and David Lyon, who are frequent contributors to Globe Magazine. The article was published May 2 as part of the magazine’s Summer Travel edition.
“West Haven being named to such a prestigious list of New England’s best beaches to visit is wonderful news, but I’m not surprised,” Mayor Nancy R. Rossi said. “Many of our residents, particularly the volunteers from the West Haven Watershed Restoration Committee, provide stewardship for the ‘Important Bird Area,’ a designation granted by Audubon Connecticut. And Audubon supporters monitor and protect the nesting areas. All of these efforts are an investment in Sandy Point’s conservation.”
Rossi added: “I know our city prides itself on being home to the longest stretch of publicly accessible shoreline in Connecticut and one of the state’s best locations to observe rare shorebirds at Sandy Point. All West Haveners should be proud of this special distinction by Globe Magazine.”
Globe Magazine, which publishes six issues per year, is available online and in the Boston Sunday Globe.
Harris and Lyon wrote that Sandy Point was best for “birding, fishing, trails.”
“Sandy Point is one of many natural resources that contribute to a better quality of life for our residents and is an economic driver for developers looking to invest in the city of West Haven,” said Fred A. Messore, the city’s commissioner of planning and development.
Topping the list of New England’s best beaches was the Cape Cod National Seashore in Provincetown and Truro, Massachusetts.
West Haven’s Sandy Point was preceded by DuBois Beach in Stonington, ranked 10th, and followed by Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison, ranked 12th.
When highlighting Sandy Point, Harris and Johnson wrote: “A 1.7-mile recreation path ties together West Haven’s sandy beaches on Long Island Sound. On the eastern end, the sand spit known as Sandy Point is one of the prize locations on the Connecticut Coastal Birding Trail. Save the swimming for nearby Bradley Point and Morse parks and take the binoculars to Sandy Point to watch the shorebirds. A colony of sharp-tailed sparrows nests in the adjacent tidal marsh. The entire sanctuary is also a major stopover for spring and fall migrants. Surfcasters like the point at night during striper season.”