Death by a thousand papercuts: Provincetown dune shack dweller waits on Seashore decision

Denise Coffey, Cape Cod Times
·2 min read
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PROVINCETOWN — Peter Clemons is still waiting for a decision from the Cape Cod National Seashore.

He received notice in May to vacate a dune shack he and his family have been using since 1996. The Seashore decided to hold a public bid, rather than award leases to long-time users, as it has for decades. Clemons and his family were one of eight families impacted.

The Seashore's decision could upend summer life for seven families. An eighth family, the Del Deos, have been approved for a special use permit for five years after negotiations between the family’s lawyers and the National Park Service.

In this June 2023 photo, Peter Clemons stands before his family's Provincetown dune shack which they call The Grail.
In this June 2023 photo, Peter Clemons stands before his family's Provincetown dune shack which they call The Grail.

The fate of the other seven families is unclear. Clemons said he’s received several certified letters from the National Park Service since September announcing extensions to the official decision. Bids were originally going to be selected by early September. He likened the delays to “death by a thousand paper cuts,” then qualified his words.

“Our little problems with the Park Service have been inconsequential compared to what’s going on in Israel, Palestine, Afghanistan, and Ukraine,” he added. “It’s hard to look for a lot of sympathy when people are suffering worldwide with much more devastation than being thrown out of a dune shack.”

Peter Clemons points to sites along the trail to his family's dune shack in Provincetown.
Peter Clemons points to sites along the trail to his family's dune shack in Provincetown.

An Oct. 2 letter from the Park Service informed him that the evaluation of proposals is “ongoing,” but a decision on the Fearing shack, the one Clemons has been using, would be made in weeks. Should Clemons be selected, a special use permit would be approved following a lease negotiation period, the letter said.

But if Clemons isn’t selected, he is expected to have his pots and pans, books and belongings out of the shack by Nov. 15.

The "great room" of Peter Clemons' family's dune shack includes a bed
The "great room" of Peter Clemons' family's dune shack includes a bed

“It’s hard to know if we’re closing shack forever,” he said.

The Times submitted a public records request in July regarding the Seashore’s Request for Proposals, the number and names of applicants who had submitted bids, and the lease arrangements. The Park Service has yet to respond, even though the agency initially indicated a reply would be forthcoming by Sept. 15. Calls and emails to the information specialist assigned to the request have not been immediately returned.

Denise Coffey writes about business and tourism. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Seashore gives Nov. 15 deadline for dune shack lease decision