Park Service evicts Provincetown artist from "dune shack" after 80 years

• Demonstrators assembled in Provincetown Tuesday to protest Del Deo's eviction from "Frenchie's Shack."

Why it matters: Del Deo's life as a painter harkens back to Provincetown's heritage as an art colony dominated by the sea.

Artists and writers inspired by the coast have occupied the dune shacks for generations.

• Provincetown leaders worry the character of the shacks will be diminished if they are leased only to wealthy, high bidders.

Flashback: While the Park Service now manages the 19 shacks, they predate the National Seashore established under President John F. Kennedy to protect the coast.

Yes, but: The National Park Service doesn't recognize Del Deo's eight-decade claim to the shack.

• The agency rejected a request by the Provincetown Select Board to prevent bidders from offering over market rates, according to the Provincetown Independent.

What's next: Proposals are due to the Park Service by July 3.