Letter to Citizens

Dear Citizens,
On Saturday, March 28, 2020, people were jogging, walking, and riding bicycles on both sides of Ocean Blvd. The area was extremely congested with pedestrian, bicycles and vehicles traveling along the northbound and southbound sides of Ocean Blvd. People ignored the “Beach Closed” signs and walked onto the beaches. The most troubling sight was two people riding horses along Ocean Blvd. As I monitored the area, I watched two bicyclists ride over the white fog line and into the travel lane to avoid the two horses. Vehicles that were traveling north and south had to brake and slow to ensure the safety of the horses and their riders. With the numbers of people at the State Parks and beaches, it was as if it was a hot summer day in Rye, New Hampshire.

The State of New Hampshire is in a state of emergency and we can’t stress enough that people should be staying at home, if not at the direction of us, but of your own health professionals. New York is a prime example of how easy it is to catch COVID-19 and even the New York hospitals, who treat high numbers of patients on any given day, are saying that they do not have the staff or equipment to handle the volume of ill people checking into their facilities. By staying in your own respective towns and local spots, community-based transmission can and will lessen.

Please understand that the Rye Board of Selectmen and New Hampshire Governor Sununu have closed the seacoast area state parks and beaches to keep everyone healthy and we need the public to abide by the closures for the time being. I am asking every citizen to voluntarily follow what our health professionals, our Governor and the Rye Board of Selectmen are asking. Please stay home and do not travel unless necessary.

“It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.” -Moliere

Chief Kevin Walsh