City addresses Lakeside beach influx

When about 7,000 people showed up to Lakeside Beach on Memorial Day they brought with them just as many problems.

The thousands of people who used the beach that day resulted in overflowing garbage cans, a littered beach, long lines outside the bathrooms, and snarled traffic as people waited for open parking spots.

City officials attribute the influx in visitors to a combination of park improvements, warm weather and the holiday weekend.

But they’re preparing for a repeat of the increased crowds all the same.

“The simple issue is the crowds are massive,” Port Huron City Manager James Freed said. “We’re getting 6,000 to 7,000 people. It started last summer; we were getting 3,000 to 5,000 people.

“We beefed up our staff this year. We beefed up policing. But it simply wasn’t enough so we’re going to have to bolster those efforts.”

The city recently added to the park new restrooms, a splash pad, new benches, additional trash bins, a drinking fountain, shower stations and a stand used for police details.

On Monday, those new amenities were stretched to their capacity as large crowds created long lines at the bathroom, litter at the park and long traffic backups along Gratiot Avenue.

“Probably 90 percent of the crowd consisted of out-of-towners,” said David Minock, who owns The Spirits Shoppe across the street from the park. “From our standpoint, dealing with them, they seemed to be well-mannered.

“Typically, what we’re seeing on Sundays for the entire summer — from here to Labor Day if the weather’s nice — Sunday seems to be the primary day for out-of-towners to visit the park. Saturdays seem to be the more local day.”

Jane Boyd, who lives beside the park, said she was shocked by the number of people walking to the park after the parking lot filled.

“This will be my 27th summer here and I’ve never seen it like that,” she said.

Allen Sabb has lived beside Lakeside Park for 25 years. The Port Huron man said he likes the improvements that have been made to the park, but the holiday crowds and the traffic backup they created worried him.

“If there was a fire or emergency or drowning, what are you going to do?” Sabb said.

“If it’s full, why are you going to let people line up for three, four hours? Because people are going to stay that whole time.”

The city had increased police and parks and recreation staff Monday in anticipation of crowds between 3,000 and 5,000 people, Freed said. Those officers, cadets and staff members worked long hours to accommodate the larger-than-expected crowds.

Freed said parks and recreation staff were at the park until 9:30 p.m. Monday, and returned at about 4 a.m. to continue cleanup.

Jet ski patrols from the St. Clair County Sheriff Marine Division and Port Huron Police officers and cadets patrolled the area Monday. But the cadets eventually were called from patrols at the Black River Canal to the beach, and officers spent hours directing traffic on Gratiot Avenue.

“The parks and recreation staff, the police staff, they did a great job,” Freed said. “It was just overwhelming crowds.

“We’re hoping that that was just the Memorial Day crowd and that 3,000 to 5,000 number is more consistent.”

In the event that number doesn’t decrease, the city is looking at ways to handle the swelling crowds.

Staff will be increased at the entry booth. Cars will be served on both sides of the booth, allowing two lanes of traffic for entry. A right turn entrance lane will be created using orange cones.

A dumpster will be ordered for the facility, radios will be ordered for park personnel and porta-potties will be added to supplement the existing restrooms – both at Lakeside and Lighthouse Beach.

Additional fencing will be placed along the Black River Canal to prevent trespassing. Police cadet and officer bicycle patrols also will be increased near the Black River Canal and surrounding roadways and neighborhoods to prevent illegal trespassing or parking.

Illegal parking fines could increase to $50, as the current fine is the same as the park entrance fee.

The city also has requested the assistance of U.S. Border Patrol bicycle units.

The city is exploring a partnership with Blue Water Area Transit to provide shuttle services from nearby parking lots.

Freed said staff members will continue to distribute brochures on other available beaches in the Blue Water Area to people waiting in line.

He said the added costs in increased staffing and amenities will be paid for by the entry fees for the park.

Sabb said he likes the idea of increased police patrols, bathrooms and traffic controls. Minock also recommended the city charge for people walking into the park from other parking locations.

“Because there’s so many out-of-town people using the park, it's discouraging local people from going there,” Minock said.  “If that’s going to be the case then they should figure out a way to benefit from it.

“I saw people parking and walking from Holland Woods School.”

Contact Beth LeBlanc at (810) 989-6259 or eleblanc@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @THBethLeBlanc.

Lakeside Beach

Lakeside Beach is located at the corner of Holland and Gratiot avenues in Port Huron. The splash pad is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

Residents of Port Huron, Port Huron Township and Fort Gratiot can purchase a $5 sticker for unlimited entrance to the park for a year.

St. Clair County residents can pay a $5 daily entrance fee or $35 for a year-round sticker.

Out-of-county residents must pay $10 a day per vehicle.

All stickers are available for purchase at the entrance booth.