Case goes to higher level

Moody Beach waterfront property owners win court case, 'Free Moody Beach' group to appeal

WELLS (WGME)- Under colonial law from the 1600's, people who come to Moody Beach are only allowed to fish, fowl, or navigate along the beach- unless you own waterfront property. 'Free Moody Beach' spokesperson Jeannie Connerney says the law is outdated and needs to be changed. This means most activity is illegal for anyone who that doesn't own waterfront property. (WGME, Feb. 14, 2024)

"It's now 2024, people go to the beach to have fun with their family and friends. They do not go to the beach to fish, fowl, and navigate," said Connerney. 

That's why a group of Mainers filed a lawsuit in 2021 hoping to open the beach to anyone not just folks who own a house along it. Benjamin Ford is an attorney who represents the 'Free Moody Beach' group.

"Nobody on this beach is paying property taxes on any of this intertidal land. So while they can call the police to have children removed for playing soccer, they're not paying a dime in taxes," said Ford. 

On Friday Moody beachfront property owners won the court case. Connerney calls the beach is a hostile environment.

"The private homeowners are allotted 99% of moody beach, the rest of the people are only allotted 1% of Moody Beach. We often times are crowded like sardines onto our 1% of sand while the rest of the beach lay almost empty," said Connerney. 

Ford wishes the judge dug into the facts more that they presented on different ways people use the land from the low to high tide mark.

"And instead they threw up it's hands and said as the lower court we really don't have the authority to overturn," said Ford.