On Wednesday, August 10th, over 250 kids arrived on Malibu Beach in Dorchester for the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester’s BeachFest, made possible through a grant from Save the Harbor/Save the Bay’s Better Beaches Program partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). Youth from the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester and BCYF Leahy Holloran Community Center enjoyed free activities, music, sports, food and more on the beach.
“Dorchester has some of the region’s secret gems when it comes to public beaches at Malibu and Savin Hill, and it’s great to see so many new young people experiencing these spectacular urban natural resources right here in Boston,” said Chris Mancini, Executive Director of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay. “Thanks to Mike Joyce and everyone at the Dorchester Boys and Girls Club for putting on this amazing event year after year and helping create a new generation of environmental stewards who understand these beaches belong to them.
“The Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester partnered with the Leahy Holloran Community Center in Dorchester to bring free, accessible summertime fun to Dorchester youth. Kids were met with towering inflatable bounce houses and games provided by Pleasant Entertainment as they arrived on the beach. Games and sports were scattered along the shore including corn hole, giant jenga, gaga ball, badminton, and hockey provided by Knucklebones. Kids lined up to get caricatures drawn by local artists and face painting from South Shore Pottery Shop while the Circus Guild astounded kids with acrobatics. Later in the day, a free, healthy lunch was provided to all attendees by Fresh Food Generation. Kids also enjoyed frozen treats from the Boston Police Department ice cream truck and Richie’s Italian Ice.
“Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester is excited to partner with Save The Harbor/Save The Bay on the Better Beaches program. Our BeachFest event is an opportunity to get our members off-site for a fun-filled event that also exposes them to the natural resources within their own community,” said Mike Joyce, Senior Vice President of Operations at the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester. “Our hope is that through participating these members, and their extended families, will return to the Beach and enjoy this recreation space for additional family fun.”
According to Save the Harbor/Save the Bays Development Director Patricia Salic, free beach events like this would not be possible without their program partners and event sponsors, including Arctic Chill and Harpoon Brewery, JetBlue, FMC Ice Sports, P&G Gillette, National Grid, Coast Cannabis, the Daily Catch, Comcast, Mix 104.1, iZotope, Inc, The Blue Sky Collaborative, Boston & Maine Webcams, BostonHarbor.com, The Boston Foundation, and The Richard Saltonstall Charitable Foundation.
In addition, Save the Harbor recognized the Metropolitan Beaches Commission Co-Chairs Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn, and Representative Adrian Madaro of East Boston and the legislative and community members of the Commission as well as Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Ron Mariano for their support for their beaches and communities. Save the Harbor also thanked the Baker-Polito Administration, the Massachusetts Legislature, Save the Harbor’s partners at the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the YMCA of Greater Boston, and the hundreds of people who took part in the Shamrock Splash for their support.
Maureen Dahill is the editor of Caught in Southie and a lifelong resident of South Boston sometimes mistaken for a yuppie. Co-host of Caught Up, storyteller, lover of red wine and binge watching TV series. Mrs. Peter G. Follow her @MaureenCaught.
Our members and staff at Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester had a great day!