Free WiFi, charging stations installed at local beaches

BOSTON — You wouldn't know it to look outside this rainy Thursday, but summer is just around the corner.

The kickoff to the season is this weekend, and in Massachusetts, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is geared up.

It wasn't exactly a beach day, but Boston 25 News checked out the preparations at Castle Island as they anticipate thousands of people hitting the sand.

Andrew Zaroda is with the DCR and says about 100 lifeguards are expected to be on duty at various waterfront locations this Memorial Day weekend.

“We’re opening this weekend, so lifeguards will be kind of doing a soft opening,” said Zaroda.

At several locations, new, high-tech kiosks will also meet patrons who hit the beach this summer.

“They’re solar powered, which is really great,” said Zaroda.

In the fall of 2016, the kiosks were installed at 13 DCR locations, as far north as Nahant, and as far south as Westport.

“We have one here at Castle Island.  We have one in front of the Murphy Rink,” said Zaroda.

These charging stations provide users with free battery power for their phones.

“It's just a sign of the times. Everybody has their cellphones. There's not always places to charge, especially along the beaches, so it’s a great thing for the patrons that come to our beaches to have their phones charged,” said Zaroda.

The project was funded by DCR and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.  With a price tag of almost $100,000, they’re also supposed to offer beachgoers Wi-Fi.

DCR tells Boston 25, they are having trouble with connectivity, but expect to offer Wi-Fi soon.

Either way, Zaroda says this is why beachgoers flock to the commonwealth.

“This is the perfect time to come on down,” said Zaroda.

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