NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — For one afternoon each summer, historic Eagle Street is transformed into a giant sandy beach in the heart of downtown North Adams.

 

That happens this Thursday, July 16, from 4 to 8 p.m.

 

Created in 1999 by artist Eric Rudd, the Eagle Street Beach has become one of North Adams' most beloved summer traditions. Children and adults alike are invited to dig, build sandcastles, play beach games, relax in the sand, and enjoy an unforgettable afternoon on 500,000 pounds of sand spread curb-to-curb along the entire length of Eagle Street.

 

"I've always believed that the best public sculpture is one that people don't just look at — they experience," said Rudd.

 

Presented by the Barbara and Eric Rudd Art Foundation in partnership with the City of North Adams, the Eagle Street Beach is much more than a festival. Conceived as an urban beach sculpture, the artwork is not complete until thousands of children, families, and visitors become active participants rather than simply spectators. For one afternoon, an ordinary city street is transformed into a place of imagination, play, and community.

 

Children ages 12 and under can enjoy free giveaways while supplies last, including: Sand pails and shovels, Jack's Hot Dog gift certificates, North Adams SteepleCats tickets and additional surprises donated by local businesses.

 

While artificial beaches had appeared elsewhere in a variety of settings, the Eagle Street Beach is believed to have been among the first — and possibly the first — block-long downtown street ever transformed into an urban beach as a community sculpture. Several years later, similar urban beach projects, including the internationally known Paris Plages, began appearing in major cities around the world.