While some of the beaches at Cape Cod National Seashore were hit particularly hard by Hurricane Sandy last fall and winter storms, park officials say repairs will be made in time for the high summer season.

The beach access stairs were lost at Nauset Light Beach in Eastham, and at Marconi Beach in Wellfleet. However, national seashore staff recently secured over $200,000 in storm damage funding from the Northeast Regional Office of the National Park Service and has contracted with Classic Site Solutions to perform the stair replacement work.

Seashore Superintendent George Price says the work will begin immediately and will be completed in early June.

The other four seashore public beaches currently are open, including Coast Guard Beach in Eastham, Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro, Race Point Beach at Provincetown, and Herring Cove Beach, also at Provincetown.

Staffing for seashore beaches is funded by the recreation parking fees and are not affected by the sequestration budget reductions. Staffing includes lifeguards, maintenance, and law enforcement rangers, who perform patrols and assist visitors.

Personal service programs such as interpretive walks and talks and education programs have been cut significantly as a result of sequestration. The Salt Pond Visitor Center, Eastham is open seven days a week all year. The Province Lands Visitor Center will be open Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day as a result of a generous donation from the Friends of the Cape Cod National Seashore.