|
|
|
| Tue, Nov. 24 - - Mobile - RSS | |
|
|
Overuse prompts Beach to close park
Visitors overrun Colonial Beach park, prompting council to close it
Date published: 8/4/2009
BY FRANK DELANO There is one less playground at "The Playground of the Potomac" after Colonial Beach closed a popular park this past weekend. Castlewood Park had become too popular, said Town Councilman Steve Kennedy. "It had gotten overrun. The influx of people was affecting the quality of life of residents," he said. According to Kennedy and others, the tiny, leafy park beside a public beach on the Potomac River attracted hundreds of weekend users from out of town. Visitors usurped residential parking spaces and "left mountains of trash that took half a day to clean up," said Kennedy. They also overwhelmed the park's tiny restroom facilities, he said. Things came to a head last week when residents living around the park complained at a Town Council meeting. The council decided to close the park until further notice and impose $5 parking fees for cars and $10 for vehicles with boat trailers. The parking permits apply only on weekends and holidays to out-of-town vehicles. "Everything went really smoothly," said police Sgt. James Wells, who worked extra duty Saturday to enforce the new rules at Castlewood, one of two public beaches in the town. "I'm shocked to see how clean it is this morning," Bill Norris, a park neighbor, said yesterday. "I've never seen it look this good on a Monday morning." The park will remain closed as the council considers other restrictions on town beaches and public areas. Fires, dogs, alcohol and sleeping are now prohibited on the beaches. Among other things, council is mulling: Dusk-to-dawn closing of parks and beaches. "Swim-only" beaches, where fishing is prohibited. Banning tents and all cooking devices from the beaches. Prohibiting fishing from the stone revetments along Irving Avenue. Limiting fishermen on the town pier to two poles. Prohibiting parking on the river side of Irving Avenue and allowing only residents and guests to park on the other side. Restricting parking in the area known as the Point south of Boundary Street to residents and guests. Raising fines for violations of parking and other town ordinances. Colonial Beach "is a beautiful place. That's why we live here," Kennedy said at last week's meeting. "We're here to protect it," said a woman in the audience. Frank Delano: 804/761-4300
Date published: 8/4/2009
Continued..
(posted by
Suzy
, Aug. 5, 2009 5:01 pm)
Of course we have a local who is saying it is "Mexican's" [sic] The color of someone's skin has nothing to do with whether or not they should be allowed use of the local PUBLIC park and playground.
Do the officials in CB still wonder why young people leave ASAP? Who wants to raise a family where you can't even use the playground due to residents having a fit about it?
I'm not surprised..
(posted by
Suzy
, Aug. 5, 2009 4:56 pm)
This is typical of Colonial Beach officials. Instead of actually fixing the problem, just close the park, entirely.Unfortunately, they do not realize that they are hurting the children of Colonial Beach.
Now, there is 1 park, at the elementary school, for kids to play at. That park has no shade, at all, and only on street parking. Instead of closing the park, why not have the police come through there and make sure things are safe? Have town employees pick up trash twice a day if need be.
R U SERIOUS????
(posted by
OGHunBun
, Aug. 5, 2009 2:42 pm)
There is a playground and one bench....Maybe two. People would laugh if you tried to charge them. I am laughing now. STONEWALLPARK I agree there is NOTHING in the beach. Colonial Beach USED to be a tourist city back in my great grandparents day but now its nothing but a deadend with a dirty beach. It obviously attracts the right kind of people..trash.
DrifterFan
(posted by
Publius2
, Aug. 5, 2009 8:21 am)
I must have the edited version of this letter. I saw no mention of nationality or ethnic origin of the users of the park. Have you conducted some independant survey of the park users to determine their origins? Perhaps the highly effective Colonial Beach Police Department should investigate this massive influx of foreign tourists. One could speculate that their presence is due to a lower chance of contracting H1N1 (Swine Flu) in Colonial Beach than in their (native?) Mexico. That may explain your theory.
Now I know
(posted by
Mandrake
, Aug. 4, 2009 8:36 pm)
why people smirk when some one says "Colonial Beach". Eyes real close together are they?
|
 |
|||
|
|||
