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CLP Junction
Conneaut Lake Park Discussion
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Junction118
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Joined: 04 Apr 2005
Posts: 210
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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 Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 4:39 am Post subject: CLP enforces beach alcohol ban |
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From today's Tribune....
| Quote: | Park beach goes dry
By Jane Smith
08/16/06 —
CONNEAUT LAKE — “That would be stupid!” exclaimed Pittsburgh’s Sue Goetz when she learned that Conneaut Lake Park is banning alcohol from its beach.
Goetz, who was enjoying the beach Tuesday, said the move just doesn’t make financial sense. Pointing to the beachside Down Under Bar and Beach Club, both of which are owned by the park and leased to private managers, she said, “It kind of defeats the purpose of trying to make money at the park. They have DJs to pay, bartenders and live bands on Saturdays. It would hurt them if they’re trying to bring in money.”
Katie Goetz, who was with Sue, pointed out that beer on the beach is something of a park tradition. “It’s a fun time and people enjoy that,” she said.
But it stopped being fun for officials representing the amusement park when they heard words of concern from park security guards and the state Department of Health. Both expressed concern that the beach might become the site of a tragedy given that drinking was going on even as there are no lifeguards.
Initially, park officials said they tried to work out a deal to hire lifeguards with the two bars’ leaseholders, but when it fell through, they banned drinking until they can clarify what they must do by law as well as how to protect the park and its patrons from exposure to danger and lawsuits.
“It’s a liability issue,” said the park’s court-appointed overseer, LeRoy Stearns. “Alcohol, water and kids don’t mix.” He said the danger is if someone drinks to much, it could lead to a problem.
In addition to the potential for a problem with people drinking alcohol and going swimming, the danger of somebody breaking glass or leaving a beer can on the beach to get covered with sand also exists. “If a can is left and somebody gets a foot cut, it could be a liability issue,” he added.
He also pointed out the park has a longstanding rule banning alcohol from the beach, but it hasn’t been enforced.
Dale Sparber, partner with Down Under Bar and Beach Club leaseholder Conneaut Concessions, said it has been a tradition for as long as he can remember that people have been able to have a beer on the beach.
However, he said his company will abide by Stearns’ rules no matter the impact on patrons or the bottom line. The company has little recourse, he explained, because it doesn’t lease the beach. However, Sparber pointed out his company’s employees do daily maintenance work on the beach. He said the company pays people to rake the beach nearly every day, including picking up all the seaweed, debris, even cigarette butts.
Sparber estimates the maintenance cost for the three months of summer to be between $1,000 and $1,500.
Stearns agreed that Conneaut Concessions maintains the beach. “They chose to do it,” he said. However, “It’s a public beach, not a beach for their clients only.”
Conneaut Concessions partner Frank Flanegan said the state has no “open container” law, meaning people can carry an open beer anywhere the local government doesn’t specifically ban the practice.
Stearns said he approached Conneaut Concessions about splitting the cost of a lifeguard in an attempt to address the issue. He thought he had a deal, but when there was no lifeguard on duty Sunday, he imposed the booze ban. Stearns said Flanegan said he was told no lifeguard was needed because no admission was charged.
In any case, until Stearns clarifies the situation with the Department of Health and the park’s insurance carrier, the beach will go dry, at least as far as alcohol is concerned. |
...Not quite sure what to make of this. Technically, there already was a sign that states alcohol is not allowed on the beach but that policy hasn't been enforced recently. There really isn't a change in policy here like the article implies. It seems that CLP is in a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation here. On one hand it does increase the "family friendly" nature of the park, but at the same time it has the potential to kill the party atmosphere that exists on the beach. |
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cappy
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Joined: 02 Apr 2006
Posts: 141
Location: Western Pa
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| Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2006 10:36 am Post subject: |
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I am confused on this article. The ban does not affect the Down Under Bar correct? If it did then I could see an issue. Otherwise I agree with the Park that there should be no alcohol on the beach. Those who want to drink can hit the Beach Club, sit out on the balcony if they want to catch some sun or go to the Down Under Bar. Way too much of a liability issue drinking on the beach! And we know that not all people are responsible drinkers and it only takes a few to ruin things for all trying to use the facility.
I am just wondering how are they going to enforce it? I mean if no one wanted to hire lifeguards to monitor the beach to allow them to drink, then who is going to keep them from not. Unless the area police are going to rountinely swing by and ticket those caught.
I love how people justify things, the woman in the article stated "beer on the Park beach is something of a tradition". Well that might be a recent tradition in the last few years. Never use to be!! In fact and jimmyt can concur on this, there use to be lifeguards on the beach and you paid to use it. In fact I think there might have been changing rooms where the Down Under bar is (not sure of that but i seem to think so).
But I did learn something from the article, PA does not have a "open container law"?? That's amazing to me! I thought most states had a law on the books governing drinking on public property. I lived for a time in both SC and FL and both of them do and enforce it!
Like I said, there are plenty of places to drink, the Park needs to stick to the family theme game plan. |
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jimmyt
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Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 377
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| Posted: Sun Aug 20, 2006 8:32 am Post subject: |
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| Hi Cap...the Down Under is still open, but you can't buy a drink and take it on the beach anymore. You have to drink it at the bar. And yes, those used to be the changing rooms and there used to be a snack bar/food stand there. There's more to this story than meets the eye....stay tuned. |
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