CAPE COD, declares the National Geographic Society in its analysis of how “iconic travel destinations’’ are withstanding the pressures of overuse and development, is a “place in the balance’’ - “a mixed bag of successes and worries, with the future at risk.’’ It’s a fair assessment, but the balance is probably better than National Geographic believes. Though an iconic travel spot, Cape Cod is also a living community, and its organic growth - as much as its quaint past or natural wonders - is part of its appeal.
National Geographic actually places the Cape in its middle category - managed less effectively than Yellowstone, but better than Long Island, Chesapeake Bay, and the Everglades. Its core assessment is overly harsh but persuasive: “Some parts are beautiful and well-managed,’’ though more bike trails, conservation areas, and public transit are greatly needed. The magazine also suggested that some towns are losing their character, and that environmental quality has declined.
Many on the Cape would agree, and most of its towns are wrestling with historic and environmental preservation initiatives, while also contending with traffic and development. After years of growth, the pendulum may well be swinging toward more intensive preservation. But it’s a mistake to assume that sprawl has run rampant. Many beaches, such as Sandy Neck, Seagull, West Dennis, and the National Seashore, are well protected, while historical features like the Eastham windmill, the French Cable Museum in Orleans, and the Rockwell Kent mural at the Cape Cod Cinema have been lovingly preserved.
As the attractions suggest, the Cape isn’t all about old sea captains’ homes and lobster traps. The art-deco motels and gift shops along Route 28 have their own honky-tonk charm. Traffic can be an enormous pain in the summer, but reducing it can only mean one of two things: more roads or fewer visitors.
In certain vacation enclaves, preservation and elitism go hand-in-hand. Nantucket is beautifully maintained, but its median home price of $1.5 million is the highest in the state. The Cape remains open to all, secure in its amazing history and the loyalty of its residents and visitors. Maintenance is a perennial challenge. Its environment must be protected. National Geographic is right to sound an alarm, but the threat remains manageable, and the Cape’s appeal is eternal.
