Protect Beach Access in Rye NH
Prevent the town of Rye from charging for parking along Ocean Blvd (Route 1A) in New Hampshire.
The Surfrider Foundation New Hampshire Chapter is participating in a grassroots campaign to protect and preserve public beach access for everyone at Rye’s coastal shoreline. Recent proposals in the Town of Rye would dramatically reduce free public parking along Route 1A and adjacent beach-access roads, replacing it with paid or permit-only parking. This would effectively limit meaningful access to the ocean for non-residents, low-income families, and the broader public.
Public parking along Ocean Boulevard (Route 1A) and neighboring streets is a critical gateway to the beach — it’s where families, surfers, swimmers, and visitors park before stepping onto the sand. Restricting or removing this access would make it far more difficult for people without resident permits or the ability to pay meters to reach our shoreline, thereby undermining the principle that beaches should be accessible to all.
Surfrider NH is working with local residents and advocates to:
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Fight proposals that eliminate free parking or make public access expensive or exclusive.
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Educate the community and decision-makers about how parking restrictions negatively impact beach access, equity, and coastal recreation.
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Mobilize public support ahead of upcoming Town meetings and votes.
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Ensure that any changes to parking policy protect public access first and foremost.
This campaign is rooted in Surfrider’s broader mission: defending ocean, waves, and beaches — not just physically, but in law and in practice — so that everyone, regardless of where they live or how much they can pay, can enjoy New Hampshire’s coast.
Get involved by spreading the word, contacting local leaders, and standing up for free, fair, and equitable beach access for all. Reach out to nh@surfrider.org.