The morning is a good time to experience Revere Beach. No honky-tonks out, just older women with their tiny dogs, the muscle-bound runner who seems curiously distracted by squawking seagulls, and a man so tiny and fragile doing tai chi next to the lap, lap, lapping of the water that I fear a stiff breeze would send him to Nova Scotia.

It’s the oldest public beach in the United States and folks in Revere (Reverians? Revereites?) wear this fact with a badge of honor. There are many more luxe beaches along the Massachusetts shoreline (pick one on Cape Cod, won’t you?) but this one is For the Public By Special Decree of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Impossible to believe in our own time, but the state government bustled in and took this section of private shore for the common good back in 1895. Today most governmental bodies are all too willing to give away the farm to any number of “innova4tors” who seek a lucrative public-private partnerships that is Oh So Private But Hey, The Public Might Get Something Later, Let’s Just Sign on the Dotted Line (sorry, my mind just turned to Chicago’s parting gift from Mayor Richard Daley and the parking meter “deal”)

Today, everyone remains welcome at Revere Beach, which is an impressive feat when you think about it. Especially when you consider that development continues to run its course in swift fashion in the area. This long expanse of sand is close to two (arguably three) MBTA Blue Line stations, and the views are quite lovely as one can look out at the tiny towns of Winthrop and Nahant in the distance, along with taking part in the ongoing sidewalk ballet on Revere Beach Boulevard that has a certain charm, regardless of whether Kelly’s Roast Beef is open or not.

Come see it for yourself. Morning is good, but whenever you have time works.