A PETITION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION:
Stop Westchester County's ban on off-season beach access at Croton Point.
Why this petition matters--Started by Kenneth Sargeant
We are writing in hopes that you will rescind the off-season ban against access to Mother's Lap Beach at Croton Point Park.
As residents of the communities surrounding Croton Point Park, we have walked the 1/4 mile stretch of Mother’s Lap Beach in the off-season, without incident for decades. We the undersigned were recently dismayed to find that this privilege was suspended along with the construction of the new beach house and the surrounding fencing.
In speaking with the park supervisor, Ms. Cavanaugh, the writer was told that the access policy change was done to protect the new beach house, and also for insurance purposes. We fully understand the need to protect the new asset, but would suggest that this could be accomplished in a less draconian manner than by curtailing access, by law-abiding neighbors, to this treasured recreational, historical, and cultural amenity. It would seem that a simple fence around the structure (coupled with inexpensive cameras and light)would accomplish that objective.
The second point-“that the decision impound the area was governed by insurance considerations” begs the question of why now? Has there been some spate of drownings in this area as compared to other shorefront areas? The areas that are covered with bulkheads would seem far more dangerous and they remain unrestricted in spite of the precipitous drop in depth along the shore.
Few things in life are more therapeutic than a walk on the beach, and this stretch of beachfront has been cherished by local residents since the park opened in the 1920s. Inasmuch as the beach is adjacent to a tidal body of water, public access would seem to be protected under Marine Tide law, which roughly states that “all rights in tidelands and the water itself are held by the state "in trust" for the benefit of the public”.
We are hard-pressed to understand how this restriction serves any compelling public purpose. Paradoxically, if one were to arrive at that shore by kayak or by the Half Moon Bay entrance, he or she would be legally free to access the beach up to the high water mark along Mother’s Lap. it seems, therefore, that this capricious and arbitrary policy would make it difficult, though not technically illegal to actually BE on the beach.
We would, therefore, respectfully request that you reconsider this unfortunate change in the enforcement of the beach access policy. Miscreants who are intent on harming the property or engaging in unauthorized swimming will not be daunted by the little black fence, and any law-abiding users (walkers, joggers, shell and driftwood collectors, photographers, fisherfolk, students, environmentalists, artists, and birders) will be totally uninterested in damaging your assets; and absolutely unlikely to get sucked into the deadly tidewaters of the Hudson.
In summary, we would ask that you reconsider and suspend this odious and ineffectual change in beach access enforcement. TO SIGN, CLICK HERE.
Why this petition matters--Started by Kenneth Sargeant
We are writing in hopes that you will rescind the off-season ban against access to Mother's Lap Beach at Croton Point Park.
As residents of the communities surrounding Croton Point Park, we have walked the 1/4 mile stretch of Mother’s Lap Beach in the off-season, without incident for decades. We the undersigned were recently dismayed to find that this privilege was suspended along with the construction of the new beach house and the surrounding fencing.
In speaking with the park supervisor, Ms. Cavanaugh, the writer was told that the access policy change was done to protect the new beach house, and also for insurance purposes. We fully understand the need to protect the new asset, but would suggest that this could be accomplished in a less draconian manner than by curtailing access, by law-abiding neighbors, to this treasured recreational, historical, and cultural amenity. It would seem that a simple fence around the structure (coupled with inexpensive cameras and light)would accomplish that objective.
The second point-“that the decision impound the area was governed by insurance considerations” begs the question of why now? Has there been some spate of drownings in this area as compared to other shorefront areas? The areas that are covered with bulkheads would seem far more dangerous and they remain unrestricted in spite of the precipitous drop in depth along the shore.
Few things in life are more therapeutic than a walk on the beach, and this stretch of beachfront has been cherished by local residents since the park opened in the 1920s. Inasmuch as the beach is adjacent to a tidal body of water, public access would seem to be protected under Marine Tide law, which roughly states that “all rights in tidelands and the water itself are held by the state "in trust" for the benefit of the public”.
We are hard-pressed to understand how this restriction serves any compelling public purpose. Paradoxically, if one were to arrive at that shore by kayak or by the Half Moon Bay entrance, he or she would be legally free to access the beach up to the high water mark along Mother’s Lap. it seems, therefore, that this capricious and arbitrary policy would make it difficult, though not technically illegal to actually BE on the beach.
We would, therefore, respectfully request that you reconsider this unfortunate change in the enforcement of the beach access policy. Miscreants who are intent on harming the property or engaging in unauthorized swimming will not be daunted by the little black fence, and any law-abiding users (walkers, joggers, shell and driftwood collectors, photographers, fisherfolk, students, environmentalists, artists, and birders) will be totally uninterested in damaging your assets; and absolutely unlikely to get sucked into the deadly tidewaters of the Hudson.
In summary, we would ask that you reconsider and suspend this odious and ineffectual change in beach access enforcement. TO SIGN, CLICK HERE.
Thank you! Signed!
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