Chris Perry Column: Be Careful What You Wish For

I’ve been told by many who live in Nantucket’s farthest eastern enclave that Siasconset has it all.

A Wampanoag Algonquian term for “place of great bones,” and once described by Edward Underhill as “indescribable," the unincorporated village of Sconset was settled in the 17th century and has evolved today into the summer home for the rich and famous.

It has its own zip code, spectacular sunrises, a world class restaurant, some of the thickest red tide you’ll find on the east coast, a NRTA bus stop, a Casino, a Bartlett Farm truck, a haunted house, red clay tennis courts, the remnants of an actor’s colony, Claudette’s, erosion, an iconic lighthouse, three world-class golf venues, and a bluff walk.

But, it’s the elevated public footpath known as the Sconset Bluff Walk laid out by William Flagg in 1892, offering breath-taking views of the Atlantic Ocean and scenic sights of flowering gardens and quaint cottages, that has some Sconseters’ knickers in a knot, so much so that Lex Luther has been called in to rally support from his Legion of Doom.

“We feel like we are being invaded”, said Sconset resident, John Shea, sounding a tad melodramatic when describing a coquettish encounter on Front Street, and whose professional breakthrough came when he played Superman’s arch enemy, Lex Luther, in the 1990s TV series "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman."

“We want to secure the future health of the Sconset Bluff Walk," offered Sconset Civic Association president, Karel Greenberg, who along with Shea and other SCA dignitaries submitted a half dozen suggestions to Nantucket’s Select Board last week in an effort to stem the tide of the Bluff Walk’s growing popularity.

The presentation to the Select Board was a familiar song, but with a new twist: a proposed management plan for the Sconset Bluff Walk. The six recommendations included restricting public access during July and August, installing turnstiles, employing a seasonal Sconset Bluff Ranger (subsequently revised to a “docent”), and revising the town’s websites by removing promotional references to the Sconset Bluff Walk.

To their credit, the Select Board was more than generous with their time and patiently listened to a handful who spoke in favor of the proposed management plan. In particular, Brooke Mohr appreciated the group’s approach and emphasized the “culture of sharing that space." Following suit, fellow Select Board member Tom Dixon also commented on the good faith process but quickly reminded the audience that we should be “fiercely protective of public rights and it needs to stay that way…”

With Select Board member Matt Fee controlling the discussion, town manager Libby Gibson gets high marks for her efforts by addressing issues for the town such as liability, roles, and responsibilities, and bluntly ended her comments by reminding the Select Board that these proposed recommendations have “no enforcement capabilities - ‘the rules’ on the signs are not enforceable - they’re guidance and when or if individuals want to complain about what is told to them about using the path, we don’t want that to end up back in my office…”

From a macro perspective, the Select Board was able to skillfully navigate onto the incredibly slippery slope of discussing the topic of the public’s right to access a public footpath without offending anyone along the way. They appeared to be genuinely interested in understanding the sensitivity of the topic and, ultimately, the Select Board supported a revised management plan for July and August “on a trial basis."

In the end, the compromise was symbolic at best, as both sides saved face. But more importantly, the Select Board was able to stand dangerously close to the edge without falling over by avoiding the appearance of being part of any methodical effort to restrict public access to the Sconset Bluff Walk.

For the Sconset Civic Association, I am still wondering what their ultimate goal is. Was the management compromise a healthy step towards managing the asset, or was it an attempt to break the ice with the desire for more draconian restrictions down the road? In the eyes of their constituents, the SCA earned some “street cred” in the village by getting a seat at the table and ultimately securing the Select Board’s support for some of their management proposals. But islandwide, the jury is still out.

For example:

Initially, the SCA suggested a management plan that restricted public access from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., which was later amended. That certainly curried favor with those select few who live on Baxter Road and Front Street. However, I doubt it will build a coalition of support across the island, especially with those who have little to no sympathy for homeowners who knowingly purchased property that abuts the Sconset Bluff Walk.

Secondly, whether the SCA hires a Bluff Ranger or a Bluff Docent, the easy answer could have been a call to Allen Reinhard. He would have been the ideal Bluff Ambassador, calmly walking the trail, adding instant credibility. However, if the SCA wants someone to “educate the public” and “reinforce the rules," the last thing you need is an inexperienced “docent” unfamiliar with the law and bottle-necking the entrance(s) to the Bluff Walk.

The SCA also suggested that the town remove promotional references to the Sconset Path from digital, print, and social media outreach from their website (s). That’s weak sauce, and I am sad to report that the Select Board has already “endorsed and accomplished” this request.

The last time I checked, the “exceptional walk on the public footpath with fantastic views” as described on one of Nantucket’s websites has not fallen into the Atlantic Ocean yet. Trying to wipe the slate clean and pretend that the footpath doesn’t exist in an attempt to dissuade people from visiting the Bluff Walk is naive. In fact, I believe this scrubbing will attract more attention to the Bluff Walk as it reminds me of the Wizard trying to convince Dorothy not to look behind the curtain.

Finally, having Sconset resident and actor John Shea partnering with Select Board member Matt Fee to scold the audience about the negative impact that marketing, the internet, and social media have had on the Sconset Bluff Walk sounded tone-deaf to me.

Shea, who can thank the Hollywood movie industry and the Broadway media machine for hyping "Super Man," "Yentl," "Coast to Coast," "Gossip Girl," and "Baby M," speaking in unison with Fee, who has masterfully marketed and promoted Something Natural around the globe, warning the Nantucket community of the very thing that made them both industry superstars reminded me of the English jurist, John Seldon, who coined the phrase: “Do as I say, not as I do”.

Undoubtedly, there will be heated discussions around Pump Square and Larsen Park in July and August during the trial run of the recommended restrictions and docent patrols, but the Sconset Civic Association has the next move. Historically, it has never gone well for anyone on Nantucket who has pursued efforts to restrict public access, be it beach or path. I know "Twenty is Plenty in Sconset," but this time around, it might be wise for the Sconset Civic Association to heed the words of the ancient Greek storyteller, Aesop, who said:

“Be Careful What You Wish For…"