Nantucket Parks Commission Approves Two Children's Beach Permits, Previews $2 Million in Projects

NANTUCKET — July 17, 2026 — Nantucket Parks and Recreation Commission approves two Children's Beach permits and previews $2 million in capital projects. The commission, meeting July 17, unanimously approved a permit for a 75-person outdoor workout class at Children's Beach on August 3, organized by CAV in partnership with a local group called MAST, conditioned on the applicant submitting a fire-department-required emergency action plan. The commission also approved a town department permit for the Nantucket Children's Book Day on August 23, featuring eight confirmed authors including local writer Wendy Roulard as the headliner; last year's inaugural event drew about 120 children and distributed 250 free books. Parks Director Charlie presented two capital projects bound for a future town meeting: a $625,000 renovation of both little league fields covering backstops, fencing, batting cages, bleachers, and scoreboards, and a nearly $1.4 million rebuild of the 22-year-old Winter Park playground that would double the play area and add ADA-accessible rubberized flooring and a basketball court. Michael Kozart was re-elected chair and Nikki Drew was elected vice chair, each on a 4-0-1 vote with the electee abstaining.