Open Plum Island, MA, Beach

Plum Island, MA, is divided between four cities and towns: Newburyport, Newbury, Rowley and Ipswich.

Developed areas of the island constitute the village of Plum Island, Massachusetts, with public beaches, businesses and private residences. These lie wholly within Newburyport and Newbury. The island's pristine largest section is managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge. On the mainland opposite, Massachusetts Audubon Society operates the Joppa Flats Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary.

Now that the piping plover population has made a significant comeback, it is time to open the shoreline year round to paid visitors and protect the nesting area of the dunes, which is now done at the Trustees Crane Beach in Ipswich, MA.