No sunbathing at Avila Beach? Port San Luis bans towels, blankets and ‘loitering’
Just as soon as the weather takes a turn for the sunny, Port San Luis Harbor District has some bad news for hopeful beachgoers.
The harbor district, which includes Avila Beach, will enforce new restrictions at several of its beaches starting Wednesday in an effort to promote social distancing.
The district announced Tuesday that because of “significant beach crowds and crowded beach parking” in Avila Beach, it has decided to restrict beach use to short periods of time — only about one hour, or enough time for a short walk. Beach set-ups like towels, chairs and umbrellas will not be allowed, and visitors are asked to not loiter on the beach.
The restrictions apply to Avila Beach, Fisherman’s Beach and Olde Port Beach, according to a district news release.
“Oh dear,” the district wrote in a Facebook post on the restrictions Tuesday. “We regret needing to take this action, but nobody listened to earlier, gentler warnings.”
In the post, the district said that it had previously closed the road to Pirate’s Cove because “social distancing was most certainly not happening there.”
The post also noted that “great groups” of people were gathering on its beaches and parking lots, and some were even climbing beneath gates or fences while doing so.
“While many of us have been hunkering down to try to break the chains of infection in our communities, too many people have decided the pleasures of the moment are worth bringing back the coronavirus to their friends and family,” concluded the post. “Not cool.”
According to the district’s news release, the restrictions will be enforced by Port San Luis lifeguards and Harbor Patrol.
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 6:45 PM.
%20Cropped.jpg)