Any and all questions, concerns, suggestions, etc. that any member of the public may wish to express to the Ellis Park Board of Directors can be directed to: 

Ellis-Short Sands Park Trust, PO Box 364 York Beach, ME 03910 Or YB210@ymail.com

All inquiries will be greatly appreciated and will be responded to by a member of Ellis-Short Sands Park Trust.

 

Short Sands Beach / Ellis Park

Agreement between Town of York and Ellis Park Trustees

Ellis Park and Short Sands Beach is owned by the Town of York and managed by a private Board of directors known as the Ellis Park Committee. .

Working cooperatively, the goal of the Town and Ellis Park Board of Directors is to make the park the very best it can be for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike. For additional information or to offer suggestions please contact Ellis Park Superintendent Corey Hawthorne or Ellis Park Board of Directors President David Bridges at yb210@ymail.com.  If you have an urgent issue, please call the Parks and Recreation Department at 207-363-1040.

 

SHORT SANDS BEACH

The very popular Short Sands Beach is a quarter-mile-long sandy pocket beach tucked between rocky cliffs in the village of York Beach.  Short Sands is located in Ellis Park and offers public restrooms, seasonal lifeguards, metered parking, a large sandy playground, basketball courts, a gazebo and a large grassy park area.  A promenade walkway runs along the beach and has many conveniently located benches.  The Ellis Park Trustees schedule free concerts and entertainment in their park throughout the summer.  There are several nearby shops, entertainment, attractions, restaurants and hotels making Short Sands beach very attractive to tourists.

Ellis Park and Short Sands Beach is owned by the Town of York and managed by a private Board of Trustees known as the Ellis Park Committee. While the Committee has oversight of the park the Town has a shared responsibility to manage and maintain park facilities.

Short Sands Beach

Ocean Avenue – Route 1A
York Beach, ME 03910

DETAILS

BEACH:  .25 miles long of mostly sandy beach with some tide pools and rocky areas

PARKING METERS:

  • In effect from May 15th through October 15th from 8:00am until 10:00pm annually.
  • $2.00 per hour (Kiosks)
  • Meters accept credit /debit cards and cash
  • Traffic Safety Ordinance

GRILLS, CAMPFIRES AND BONFIRES:  Not Permitted.  Beach Ordinance

DOGS:

  • No domestic animals between the hours of 8:00am and 6:00pm from May 20th through September 20th.
  • Required to be on a leash between May 20th and September 20th between 6:00pm and sunrise.
  • Animal Control Ordinance

LIFEGUARDS:

  • Seasonal Lifeguards on duty daily from the last week in June through Labor Day between 9:00am and 4:30pm.

SMOKE FREE:

  • All of York’s beaches have been posted as “Smoke Free”.  In a non-binding resolution, selectmen declared a tobacco-free zone on public beaches.  The ban is a request, not a law.

TRASH RECEPTACLES:  No.

  • NOT for household trash.

WATER QUALITY TESTING:  Yes

SURFCASTING:  Yes – only when there are no swimmers in water or on the beach.

BUS AND RV PARKING:  No.

AMENITIES:

  • Public restrooms – The Park has a new, modern restroom facility which opened in June of 2014. The Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for managing the facility which is open from May 1st through Columbus Day weekend. The schedule and hours of operation are as follows;
    • May 1st through June 15th, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
    • June 16th through September 15th, 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM
    • September 16th through October 15th, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Schedule may be extended, weather permitting
  • Playground
  • Gazebo
  • Covered Bandstand area
  • Basketball Courts
  • Grassy Park for picnics and play
  • Restaurants, take-out food, convenience market, shopping and arcade within walking distance