Chappaquiddick Community Center

Organized in 1986 and incorporated in 1987, the Chappaquiddick Community Center, Inc., a not-for-profit, tax-exempt corporation, is the creation of a group of Chappy residents to accept a gift of land, specifically for a community center, from Bill Brine, a long time summer resident, and an enthusiastic Chappaquiddick supporter. The founders, being aware of the expanding island's summer and winter population, had felt for some time the need to preserve the sense of community in the face of its rapid and diverse growth. It is therefore dedicated to maintaining and fostering that special closeness that has always existed amongst neighbors and summer friends because of our particular insular life on Chappaquiddick. 

With those purposes as per the overall goals, the Chappaquiddick Community Center believes that the creation of an actual center, set aside for the singular purpose of and maintained for the Chappaquiddick community, is the best way to encourage friendship, social interaction, and closeness among the growing participants in our island life. At the same time, the center hopes to create a greater appreciation and awareness of Chappaquiddick's unique charm and beauty, with the hope that awareness will encourage preservation. 

The 1988 gift of land adjacent to Brine's Pond from Bill Brine when the MV Land Bank acquired the pond created an ideal location and a fantastic start towards realizing our goals of a community center.  Thanks to the community’s generosity, the building was completed in 1995. The center is a community and family-centered place for recreation, education, and social events. We have a beautiful library filled with Chappy historical displays and books written by Chappy authors. Our volumes include natural history, references, and children’s books. 

In achieving its goals, the Chappaquiddick Community Center sponsors summer and winter activities to reflect and benefit our summer and winter island families. We provide many activities such as sailing, tennis, yoga, table tennis, ongoing book sales, book club, lobster rolls, and ice cream socials during June, July, and August. Our fantastic classical music series, and don’t forget the annual calendar contest! 

We host holiday teas, the ferry captain’s appreciation dinner, monthly potluck dinners, and other group activities that change year-to-year during the off-season. Our activities are designed to create and explicitly aim to preserve the incredible, unique atmosphere, spirit, and friendship that have always defined Chappaquiddick.