The honest truth about the Goose Rocks Beach lawsuit is plaintiff beachfront owners will be able to prevent recreational use of the beach if they win. This will be true forever. If the plaintiffs honestly do not mean to restrict use of the beach as implied by recent letters to the editor, then they should change their lawsuit to permit recreational use explicitly. Nothing else will be legally binding.

There is more at stake here than continued use of the beach for sandcastles and walking. There are economic impacts that will be felt by everyone in Kennebunkport if beach recreation is restricted.

There are more than 300 houses rented to people who use Goose Rocks Beach during the more than 10-week rental season. That works out to more than 60,000 visitor-days each season if there are only three people in each rental. The reduction in tourism will be felt by restaurants, shops, lobstermen, cleaners, landscapers, markets and gas stations – every business and service will be affected. The numbers in this example are grossly understated to avoid controversy.

There will be long-term municipal budget impacts as well. Plaintiff beachfront owners specifically request the town provide owners with trespass protection. How much will it cost to police the beach? The property valuations will decline to the extent that beach use is reduced. How much will real estate tax revenues decline?

The decision to fund the legal budget of the town to defeat the lawsuit will be decided at Town Meeting. Your vote will have far reaching consequences for your family and all future generations. This lawsuit is forever.

Steve Painter

Groton, Mass.