Located on Cape Cod, the Town of Mashpee is the fastest growing
municipality in the Commonwealth, and felt by its new and old residents to
be one of the most gifted with natural beauty. Along with the Martha's
Vineyard Town of Gay Head, it is also unique as one of the remaining homes
of the Wampanoag Nation, the Native American tribe which met the Pilgrims
at Plymouth. Although now outnumbered by new residents, the Wampanoag
continue to play a significant role in defining the character of the
community through the town's Indian Museum, the annual July Pow Wow and
other ongoing activities of the Tribal Council.
With over five miles of sandy beaches on Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds,
extensive waterfrontage on Waquoit and Popponesset Bays, four of the
largest freshwater ponds on Cape Cod, the three championship golf courses
of New Seabury and Willowbend and numerous other visitor amenities such as
the nationally recognized Mashpee Commons project, Mashpee is a prime
resort, seasonal home and retirement community offering both a relaxed pace
of life and a complete range of services.
With enhancement of its economic base in mind, the town is actively seeking
both environmentally friendly industrial and commercial development and
increased tourist facilities. As part of that effort the Board of
Selectmen has officially embarked on a "green tourism" development project
focusing on enhanced access and programming at the town's 1,000-plus acres
of conservation lands as well as South Cape Beach State Park, the Waquoit
Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and The Trustees of Reservations'
Lowell Holly and Mashpee River Reservations. In addition, 2200 acres in
Mashpee have been proposed for inclusion in a new National Wildlife Refuge.
All of these efforts are intended to insure that the town remains true to
its Native American heritage, maintains its economic vitality and protects
its natural resources and the sense of tranquility that makes residents
feel it is one of the best places in the Commonwealth to live, work and
visit.
(Narrative supplied by community)
