Public beachfront properties are quickly becoming a topic of contention in the Town of the Blue Mountains (TBM).
“This year, it’s still busy, but, with COVID-19 around, efforts to reduce the crowds are not working,” says TBM resident, Doreen Rivers.
“The parking enforcement to limit the number of cars in the beach’s parking lot is good but, with many parking along Lakeshore, Aspen Way and at the Craigleith Museum and just walking over makes the beach very crowded,” Rivers explains.
Over the past weekend, the majority of TBM’s waterfront properties were overrun with visitors, which has left local residents frustrated.
“As a local, I feel there is a real lack of beach time for us. I don’t like to walk down when I know I am faced with the crowds,” Rivers adds.
Prior to the weekend, TBM bulked up its enforcement measures, closing the parking lot at Northwinds Beach and creating controlled access at Peasmarsh Beach, only allowing 30 cars.
The measures were put in place on an interim basis. TBM staff also noted that parking is completely restricted along Highway 26 and parking along Lakeshore Road East is limited to 30 minutes.
“Measures, including increased by-law enforcement staffing, parking restrictions and signage have already been implemented and will continue to be strengthened as necessary,” says TBM CAO, Shawn Everitt.
Following the weekend, concerns were brought forward regarding beach-goers not practicing social distancing, staying longer than permitted, leaving garbage behind and going to the bathroom all over the place.
“In general, the town has been receiving a higher than normal number of calls and emails regarding traffic and pedestrian management at beach areas,” Everitt says, adding that TBM has seen a 60 per cent increase in calls for service to the by-law department over the last week, compared to the previous three months.
At the time of publication, the TBM by-law department was still in the process of preparing its weekend report. CollingwoodToday will provide statistics on infractions and tickets issued as soon as the information becomes available.
According to the local Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachment, the waterfront chaos did not warrant much attention.
“I was not made aware of any occurrences that were noteworthy, so I don’t have info on behaviours from the public,” says Constable Martin Hachey. “OPP will continue to patrol the [outdoor public] areas throughout the summer or as long as the restrictions/Emergency Measures and Civil Protections Act remains in order.”
Everitt says town staff are concerned about what took place over the past weekend and will be installing additional measures before Saturday.
“Town staff met early Monday morning to review and assess traffic concerns at Northwinds Beach,” Everitt continues. “Additional measures including improved signage, installation of fencing to aid in pedestrian access and control, and increased by-law enforcement staffing will be installed and implemented throughout the week in preparation for the weekend.”
Rivers welcomes the additional signage but urges the town to be clear in its messaging.
“Part of the problem is the mixed messages,” she says. “The town should have made this information more prominent on their website and/or had more prominent signage and/or handed out pamphlets to people arriving at the beach...anything to increase the communication.”
Reports of dangerous driving and close calls with pedestrians along Highway 26 due to the closed parking lot at Northwinds Beach, have also been mentioned. However, OPP says they have not been made aware of any serious incidents.
“I only see one occurrence on the parking on [highway] 26 in the Craigleith area, appears by-law took care of that one,” Hachey says.
Everitt says that Highway 26 is managed by the Ministry of Transportation.
“Town staff will be working with the Ministry of Transportation to ask for assistance in managing traffic safety on Highway 26,” he says.
Bruce Taylor, who lives along the edge of Bayview Park, says town staff and council have been doing a great job in being responsive to the community’s needs throughout the reopening.
“There is a lot going on right now. The town is trying to manage with everyone on holidays, people not taking trips away, the heatwave, and COVID-19. This is putting pressure on all of the parks, including the park down here,” Taylor says.
He adds that prior to the park washrooms being open, local residents were seeing members of the public wander onto private land looking for washrooms.
“The parks department was good at responding and put up a fence. They have been very responsive that way,” Taylor says.
With capacity being limited at the town’s more popular beachfront properties, a number of visitors are finding their way to some of the lesser-known sites, like Council Beach.
Nearby residents say the small beach parking lot, which can normally fit about six-to-eight cars was overrun with over 60 cars and more than 200 people were trying to fit in an area that should fit no more than 20 to 30 individuals.
“I haven’t been to any of the town beaches this year. I swim elsewhere,” says TBM resident, Doreen Seiggel. “In previous years I have enjoyed the beaches, but feel that we need more public beaches given that we have so many tourists and weekend people and water sports are popular and healthy entertainment.”
Everitt says by-law staff will be monitoring these areas – eventually.
“Active monitoring and enforcement of the smaller beach areas will continue to be prioritized as additional enforcement staff capacity is added,” he says.
Hachey says the OPP have been actively conducting foot patrols in TBM over the last months in all public areas, and “should the public want to report parking issues, they should call their local by-law department or, should they not be available, they can call their local police service.”
TBM staff say enforcement efforts will be increased this coming weekend and they expect more tickets will be issued.
“As a result of the significant amount of traffic and visitors to our beaches, the town will be taking a more actioned approach to enforcement by issuing tickets, as well as potentially enforcing tow-away zones,” Everitt says.
TBM is also in the process of establishing its paid parking pilot that will see non-residents charged for parking at the town’s more popular waterfront properties.
The pilot will also see restrictions prohibiting parking on some town roads, including Bay Street East, which borders Bayview Park.
“Up until last year we didn’t have any issues with parking,” says Taylor. “ In fact, [the parked cars] actually slowed the traffic down along our cottage road. There are a lot of people with bikes and children along this road. Now that they have put no parking on both sides of the street, people tend to be going a lot faster through here. We will have to see how things play out once everything is in place.”
The TBM by-law department can be reached at 519-599-3131 ext. 249 or 1-866-937-0815. Calls received after hours will be sent to a pager service.
