Belmar Salt Marsh

When plans to divide and sell a small stretch of beach and marsh on the eastern shore of Great Pond threatened to cut off public access to the water, neighbors rallied to raise money to help the town buy the 2.8 acres in 2004. Residents of the Belmar subdivision contributed $50,000 in a campaign coordinated by The 300 Committee, and Land Bank funds made up the difference.

The owner of the property at the end of Cooper and Irving Roads had devised a plan to create 28 narrow lots to sell, in effect, access to the water. Town purchase of the land helped protect the salt marsh on Great Pond and preserve public access to a small beach and to the water.