Marconi Stairs Fundraising Effort Successful

 
 

Hundreds of Supporters “Step Up” to Help Fund Replacement Stairs

In 2025, the Friends of Cape Cod National Seashore–the philanthropic partner of the National Seashore–surpassed its $125,000 fundraising goal to replace the stairs at Marconi Beach. The park’s goal to have the stairs in place by Memorial Day was achieved. More than 200 individual donations were received to replace the stairs—the only access to Marconi Beach. Construction of the new stairs enabled beach access prior to the 2025 summer season, while the National Seashore works to develop a more sustainable long-term solution.

A three-day Nor'easter struck Cape Cod late September of 2024. The storm wreaked havoc on the Seashore's fragile coastal bluff, consuming 28 feet of land in some areas of Marconi Beach, including about 8 feet where the stairs were located. A result was the catastrophic loss of the newly-built beach access stairs to Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, part of the Cape Cod National Seashore.

There was no public access to the beach, which sees approximately 250,000 annual visitors. The National Park Service estimates that 2,000 visitors use the beach per day during the summer. Nearly $540 million is contributed to the Cape economy by Seashore visitors each year.

As the National Seashore's philanthropic partner, the Friends are committed to help support the Seashore’s historical, recreational, educational and cultural programs. The Friends made the Marconi stair replacement project their top priority for 2025.

 
 
 
 
 

  • The Friends Groups of the National Park System are the official philanthropic partners who help fill in financial shortfalls to cover needs and major projects.

    The Friends of Cape Cod National Seashore (FCCNS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is a philanthropic partner of the National Seashore. Contributions are tax exempt as provided by law.

    The Friends’ mission is to help preserve, protect, and enhance Cape Cod National Seashore's environment and unique cultural heritage. For almost four decades, the Friends have funded various activities and projects, organized volunteers, and helped maintain and enrich the visitor experience through the generosity of their many members and donors. Examples of projects that FCCNS have provided funds to support include Red Maple Swamp Trail and Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail projects, and the recent painting of the Penniman House.

  • The Marconi Stairs are the main access to the beach from the parking lot. The very popular beach is served by a 535-car parking lot and gets over two thousand visits a day during the summer months. On average this beach has over 150,000 visits annually. CCNS is committed to maintaining access for the public.

  • The Marconi Beach stairs were constructed in the spring of 2024 and lasted four months before being destroyed by high tides and heavy surf in a three-day period in September 2024 during a Nor’easter. The bluff lost between 8 and 28 feet total.

  • Marconi Beach loses approximately three to six feet of ocean bluff per year to erosion. Most of the erosion comes during the winter and spring months when high surf and wind during nor’easter storms wash and blow the sand bluff away. Due to erosion at this location, the stairs have been replaced in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019 and most recently in 2024. The Marconi Beach stairs constructed in the spring of 2019 lasted five years. In 2024 the stairs were replaced, not due to storm damage, but to accelerated decay of the stair’s structural supports.

  • The cost of the most recent stairs was $246,419. Prior costs have averaged $150,000.

  • CCNS competes for funding on a five-year cycle and the next planned replacement funds are scheduled to occur in 2028. The park is actively exploring alternative fund sources for the stair replacement in 2025 and the design of the stairs will look different from what the public are used to seeing.

  • Fee Revenue collected at Marconi for the past 4 years:

    o 2021 - $601,357.00 (started collecting 5/29/2021)

    o 2022 - $479,960.00 (started collecting 5/28/2022)

    o 2023 - $378,860.00 (started collecting 6/15/2023)

    o 2024 - $357,830.00 (started collecting 6/15/2024)

    o Marconi total over those 4 years: $1,818,007

  • CCNS keeps approximately 80% of the money collected at the fee booths each summer to fund projects that support visitor services. The lifeguard staff are paid out of the money collected, as are major park projects. Examples include the recent rehabilitation of the Beech Forest boardwalk in Provincetown, repairing and resurfacing hiking trails, striping parking lots, and replacing fee booths at Race Point and Head of the Meadow this past year.

  • CCNS continues to explore long-term solutions to safely access the beach which also includes continued stair replacements. Marconi Beach has a different topography compared to Nauset Light Beach. There isn’t the natural hollow, or low spot, at Marconi Beach like there was at Nauset Light Beach. Additionally, the area will need to be screened for unexploded ordinances from past military use in this area (Camp Wellfleet).

    The weight of removable stairs and the CCNS ability to safety manipulate them is a significant concern. The height of bluff, stability of the top of the bluff, bluff geology, and visitor use are additional considerations to be considered.