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Colonial Beach has closed Castlewood Park after residents complained about its being overrun by out-of-towners. |
BY FRANK DELANO
There is one less playground at "The Playground of the Potomac" after Colonial Beach closed a popular park this past weekend.
Castlewood Park had become too popular, said Town Councilman Steve Kennedy.
"It had gotten overrun. The influx of people was affecting the quality of life of residents," he said.
According to Kennedy and others, the tiny, leafy park beside a public beach on the Potomac River attracted hundreds of weekend users from out of town.
Visitors usurped residential parking spaces and "left mountains of trash that took half a day to clean up," said Kennedy. They also overwhelmed the park's tiny restroom facilities, he said.
Things came to a head last week when residents living around the park complained at a Town Council meeting.
The council decided to close the park until further notice and impose $5 parking fees for cars and $10 for vehicles with boat trailers. The parking permits apply only on weekends and holidays to out-of-town vehicles.
"Everything went really smoothly," said police Sgt. James Wells, who worked extra duty Saturday to enforce the new rules at Castlewood, one of two public beaches in the town.
"I'm shocked to see how clean it is this morning," Bill Norris, a park neighbor, said yesterday. "I've never seen it look this good on a Monday morning."
The park will remain closed as the council considers other restrictions on town beaches and public areas. Fires, dogs, alcohol and sleeping are now prohibited on the beaches.
Among other things, council is mulling:
Dusk-to-dawn closing of parks and beaches.
"Swim-only" beaches, where fishing is prohibited.
Banning tents and all cooking devices from the beaches.
Prohibiting fishing from the stone revetments along Irving Avenue.
Limiting fishermen on the town pier to two poles.
Prohibiting parking on the river side of Irving Avenue and allowing only residents and guests to park on the other side.
Restricting parking in the area known as the Point south of Boundary Street to residents and guests.
Raising fines for violations of parking and other town ordinances.
Colonial Beach "is a beautiful place. That's why we live here," Kennedy said at last week's meeting.
"We're here to protect it," said a woman in the audience.
Frank Delano: 804/761-4300
Email: fpdelano@gmail.com
