Beach Now Open – Report on Second Day

Victoria Beach opened on May 31 and on June 1, it could be called an early  summer day with bright sunshine and temperatures around 20 C.  When I visited at around 3:00 pm, there were about 50 people on the beach – nowhere near the 1200 capacity.  I could not spot any enforcement people but then none were needed.  As a result, there were no staff or Police at the entrance or exits. Presumably they would be there if there were crowds and when the Beach is closed.  I didn’t see anyone swimming and everyone was keeping separated.  But it was a good day to just relax and enjoy the beach.  Signage was good (see photos) – they warned of what the rules were and that there were no lifeguards.  They had a positive vibe starting with “Beach Open” then following up with “Monday – Friday Only – Closed Weekends”.

Cobourg Beach - 1 June 2021
Cobourg Beach – 1 June 2021

I saw only one Porta-Pottie although there may have been another at the end of the beach. The children’s playground was open – even the splash pad.  I think they were in the care of grandmothers given that it was a working day.

The Town now has a special page on their web site that talks about the Beach and the rules (link available below).  One item to note is that there will not be any volleyball for a while at least since the Provincial rules forbid organized team sports just yet.  The Town page also mentions the West Beach even though there are no restrictions on occupancy there.

Here are some photos:

Links

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Wally Keeler
3 years ago

Anyone got any ideas how to extract $$$$$$$ from beachniks?

Wally Keeler
3 years ago

That beach and east pier are great venues for a Kite Fest in the off-season. The Canadian Kite Flying Association is the first stop for organizing something like this. Invite the Toronto Kite Fliers,
Royal City Fun Fliers, Niagara Windriders Kiting Association, Wind Climbers Kite Club, etc. Fun for families. Kiosks can sell kite kits, local artisan and baked goods a la Farmer’s market folks.

The upper section of Victoria Park.is barely used during the summer, even during the three long weekends when the beachniks arrive. Why not give the Farmer’s Market folk the opportunity to set up their kiosks in that part of the Park on the three long weekends. It will entice some beachniks to walk north and fork out some cash for the small business artisans and locally baked goods, and confections. Permit Cobourg restaurants to set up a kiosk as well.

The beachniks are going to be in the beach/park in droves on these three long weekends so it behooves us to entice as much cash from them. It would be helpful for the local economy.

Sandpiper
Reply to  Wally Keeler
3 years ago

Because there is no Parking Inadequate at best
The farmers have trucks , vans and a few have trailers
in which additional stock is kept available and close at hand .

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Sandpiper
3 years ago

Thanks for pointing that out. The north side of Queen is where they park their vehicles. Their kiosks are on the grass along the north side of Queen next to their vehicles. There will be no vehicular penetration into the park, and no walking the food supplies; people come their kiosk. People can populate that area of the park with picnic blankets, or just sit on the grass. It’s enjoyable for residents and non-residents. Artistically decorated trash cans will enhance the area. And some $$$$$ will be liberated into the pockets of the local economy. Some kiosks will be attended by people not resident in Cobourg, but resident in Wicklow or some other part of the County. They are likely to spend a portion of their earnings in Cobourg retail stores.

BTW, there are nine free parking spaces on the west side of McGill south of Queen. They need to be monetized, and the same for parking in the lot next to the swimming pool. Donegan Park parking lot should also be monetized during those three busy long weekends. Matter of fact, those nine free parking spaces on McGill can be utilized for food delivery by local restaurants to supply their kiosk at that part of the Park.

All of this activity will be well positioned away from the Zone of Respect surround the Cenotaph.

Last edited 3 years ago by Wally Keeler
Deborah OConnor
Reply to  Wally Keeler
3 years ago

When did you become a radical capitalist Wally? Is this a new aspect of your personality we haven’t seen before? Just curious.

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Deborah OConnor
3 years ago

Gosh! It’s small business, not big pharma, big tech, big billions. They are local entrepreneurs, without the security of unionized labour. These entrepreneurs and artisans have families, so making a few hundred dollars more on a weekend, provides the opportunity for buying clothes at Jakes, or Audrey’s in Town, or buying tickets to a Northumberland Players show. They are suppliers of the meat/produce for our 100 mile diets.

In the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic the successful farmers of Ukraine were regarded as exploitive Kulaks. They were demonized as a class and socialized to death, so much so that the end result was the Holodomor. Millions died.

I proposed monetary returns from a few parking spaces. The cash from those meters does not go to any capitalust enterprise, but to our beloved municipal government for the common good.

Informed
Reply to  Wally Keeler
3 years ago

I have to admit that i thought your kite Fest was a goofy idea. I actually think if it caught on,it could be bigger than the sandcastle festival.One of your better ideas.

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Informed
3 years ago

It has the advantage of being off-season, mid-Sept to mid-Oct when winds seem to be more active. The beach and east pier have the space without overhanging utility wires. A few stores could anticipate the event and set up a kiosk to sell kite kits. Local restaurants and bakeries could set up a kiosk for their treats. They can earn a hundred or two or more for the day.

And then there is the dazzling sight of extraordinary kites reflecting a wide array of creativity. https://youtu.be/fViEyvR-ADc

Deborah OConnor
Reply to  Wally Keeler
3 years ago

I feel a civil war coming on. True Cobourgers marshalling their forces to roust all the Johnny and Judy interlopers from the dirty and corrupt city to the west. Just because they made a capitalists’ wet dream full of cash selling their city property and buying cheap here doesn’t give them the right to bulldoze their brutish ways through the honest loyalists who earned the right over many years to call the shots in Cobourg.

Looking for blue collar individuals with rough, work hardened hands, sharp brains and a keen sense of strategy to form and lead the insurrection.

Ladies, please bring sandwiches and your customary sharp tongues.

Frenchy
Reply to  Deborah OConnor
3 years ago

“True Cobourgers”
Are you of the same opine of True Canadians?

ben burd
Reply to  Deborah OConnor
3 years ago

Note to mod’ – disagree with an argument but don’t slander other commenters.”

Marie
3 years ago

everyone seems to accept paying a fee for the privilege to enter Provincial Parks, Conservation areas and like to help pay for upkeep. Our beach is at least as good as most of those facilities – so why not expect some revenue. Also there is no need for fences, we already use technology to let you pay the parking fee. Have some staff to make random checks of beach patrons to proof residency or payment (Toronto TTC uses this concept).

Conor
Reply to  Marie
3 years ago

Cobourg beach is nice but it is not very long. Are you saying your beach is as good a Sandbanks or Wasaga Beach? Proof of residency? Maybe they could check immigration status and sexual orientation too. Give me a break…

cornbread
Reply to  Conor
3 years ago

Cobourg Beach is much more convenient to Toronto than Wasaga or Sandbanks…therein lies the value!

Wally Keeler
Reply to  cornbread
3 years ago

It’s also more convenient for those coming from Wicklow, Baltimore, Roseneath, Gores Landing, Cold Springs, Port Hope, Harwood, New Amhurst, Grafton, Creighton Heights, Roseneath, Alderville, etc. We need to get rid of the idea that all beachniks come exclusively from Toronto or GTA.

Mark
Reply to  Wally Keeler
3 years ago

New Amhurst is in Cobourg
so you only want certain residence of Coburg to use the beach? 🤔😁

ben burd
Reply to  Mark
3 years ago

Yes New Amhurst is in Cobourg – probably the Capital of Cobourg!!

Scottie
Reply to  ben burd
3 years ago

Perhaps it would be a good idea to at least spell it correctly… New Amherst it is

Bryan
Reply to  Marie
3 years ago

Marie,

  1. Make the paid parking area much larger so that beachers can’t park on a side street without paying
  2. Make the weekend/holiday fee high (May 1 to Sept 30) $4 per hr, daily max $30
  3. Free parking passes for locals (May 1 to Sept 30). No need to check ID
Old Sailor
Reply to  Bryan
3 years ago

Bryan

You hit the nail on the head. We don’t have parking for 1,200+ beach goers. So they flood the downtown public parking and residential streets so Cobourg residents can’t even park in front of their own home or park downtown. Would like someone at 55 King St. West to comment on this inconvenience to Cobourg taxpayers. What is the net benefit of this to Cobourg residents?

Bryan
Reply to  Old Sailor
3 years ago

Old Sailor,
1,200 beachers is somewhat overstated for the weekdays and significantly understated for hot summer weekends. A better estimate is 2 to 4,000+ and they park on all of the residential side streets from Ontario St to Abbott Blvd and north past University. High parking fees are how other Ontario beach towns are monetizing their beach assets for the benefit of the residents and providing a modest “disincentive”.

Ken Strauss
Reply to  Bryan
3 years ago

Bryan, good comments but your suggested $4/hour fee seems unreasonably low. Why not at least as much as Toronto parking fees?

Bryan
Reply to  Ken Strauss
3 years ago

K S,
Agreed.
The deterrent factor is reduced if the fee is less than they usually pay

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Bryan
3 years ago

On the west side of McGill St, south of Queen, there is a group of marked parking spaces without parking meters. The parking lot in front of the pool is free for anyone to park. This area of free parking should be monetized.

Abby
3 years ago

Well, the negativity team has shown up nicely this morning. Did any of you stop your ranting long enough to recall WHY the beach is closed, why precautions about large crowds are being taken and enforced. Are there reasons you are not interested in helping to keep folks safe till this pandemic is really over? Go join the deniers in front of Vic Hall (or wherever they are now). I’m sure you’d be welcome.

Dunkirk
3 years ago

Friends–Chatelaine Magazine ranked our town the 4th best beach in the nation; an assessment that is not surprising, but, impressive given the hundreds of Canadian communities that are adjacent to lakes & oceans.
Maclean’s Magazine then ranked us #113 using all other standard of living and quality of life criteria.
How can such a community with such a great natural beach resource(#4) do so many intentional things to make us slide down the quality-of-life scale to #113? It’s almost hard to do, but our elected officials have found a way.
Pandemic considerations aside, seeing a fence wrapped around our best asset just seems like a living example of how we might begin to explain it.
I can’t help but think-we have to do better.

cornbread
Reply to  Dunkirk
3 years ago

Sorry to say, you can’t lay all the blame for #113 on the elected officials…they don’t have total control over “Staff”.

Dunkirk
Reply to  cornbread
3 years ago

Cornbread–you could be right. It could be a collective underperformance. As we were recently reminded with the Toronto Maple Leafs–it’s not the perpetual losing–it’s HOW we lose that becomes the real issue.
(It’s worth noting that a short distance down the 401–Belleville was voted 4th best place to live in Canada…)

John Woolsey
3 years ago

FYI the washrooms were open in the canteen building for use on Wednesday.

Wally Keeler
3 years ago

Isn’t that fence around the beach a wonderful thing? Wouldn’t you like to see a temporary fence there every day for summer after summer after summer? A costly elegant fence in keeping with the dignity of a premier park, of course. And there would be signs all over it, directing people to various egress points, signs with rules, etc and at each egress point is at least one official checking out residency status and taking cash or debiting/crediting. Beachniks lining up to get in or get out to the canteen or washroom.

Luckily, the people of Cobourg do not want such a monstrosity. ,

JimT
Reply to  Wally Keeler
3 years ago

OK, but checking residency status and taking cash at the “egress point” is a bit late in the game for those who don’t have the required residency status and/or means or motive to pay after the fact.

Frenchy
Reply to  Wally Keeler
3 years ago

Wouldn’t the official checking out residency status and taking cash or debiting/crediting be at the ingress point, and the beachniks lining up to get out to the canteen or washroom be at the egress point?

Last edited 3 years ago by Frenchy
JimT
Reply to  Frenchy
3 years ago

Yep.

“At one point, [P. T.] Barnum noticed that people were lingering too long at his exhibits. He posted signs indicating “This Way to the Egress”…people followed the signs to what they assumed was a fascinating exhibit — and ended up outside”. [Wikipedia]

Last edited 3 years ago by JimT
Wally Keeler
Reply to  Frenchy
3 years ago

Oh yes, there will have to be signs at each egress point, and signs at each ingress point. Wherever you look there is something you are not facing. That will clutter up the fence even more. Thanks for revealing the picture of the fence will be even more ugly, Frenchy.

Luckily for Cobourg there will be no fence around the beach in our lifetime

Frenchy
Reply to  Wally Keeler
3 years ago

I was trying to reveal that even though you used the word egress twice in your post, you didn’t have any idea what it meant. 😄
Now, you do.

Frenchy
Reply to  Wally Keeler
3 years ago

“there will be no fence around the beach in our lifetime”

Right or wrong, it looks like there is one there now.
https://www.cobourgblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Beach-1June2021-1200.jpeg

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Frenchy
3 years ago

It’s so beautiful that fence fools are lobbying for it permanently.

cornbread
Reply to  Wally Keeler
3 years ago

Just think…the town could sell advertising space on the fence…just like the “boards” at the hockey rink.

Sandpiper
Reply to  cornbread
3 years ago

Just think we could have Greyhound races in the sand
there is a Greyhound club and rescue center here in Northumberland

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Sandpiper
3 years ago

And a kite festival on the sand off-season.

JimT
Reply to  Sandpiper
3 years ago

Yes! Greyhound races in the sand.

Then, later on after dark, submarine races for those who are into that kind of thing.

Informed
Reply to  cornbread
3 years ago

That may be the type imagination Wally believes is lacking here. Maybe a favourite Limerick or sonnet on the fence as well🙂

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Informed
3 years ago

Good idea. I will inform the Spirit of the Hills Art Association and the Cobourg Poetry Workshop for all their members to contribute to enhancing literature in the public domain, rather than be sequestered in a building we call a library. Good idea Informed.

JimT
Reply to  Informed
3 years ago

“There was a young girl from Port Hope
Who visited Cobourg in hope
That…”

Wally Keeler
Reply to  cornbread
3 years ago

Good way to advertise local restaurants, local performances, etc. Will make some money for Cobourg businesses. Oh lots weed dispensaries could also advertise on the fence. Good idea cornbread, but sadly there will never be a fence around the beach. It is nothing but the fantasy of fools.

Informed
Reply to  Wally Keeler
3 years ago

Wonder if a deal could be had on the green fencing at Brookside. It would blend in more with the grass,looking from the sandy beach area.Hows that for creative thinking? Not sure if we need the barbed wire on top though.

Wally Keeler
Reply to  Informed
3 years ago

Mediocracy at its finest.