A complaint about recent rowdy behaviour at the park prompted Champlain Township council to approve a proposal by Mayor Normand Riopel and Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Burroughs for a temporary beach patrol program at the park.

“It’s important to keep our beach safe and our residents safe,” said Mayor Riopel during the June 25 special session of council.

Council reviewed a letter from a resident complaining about a group of people who held an unauthorized barbecue at the beach. The group ignored social distancing guidelines, left the park grounds and beach area littered with empty beer bottles, cigarette butts, and other trash. Some of the partygoers also used the nearby park shrubbery as a toilet.

A temporary beach patrol plan was approved, which will involve the Ontario Provincial Police doing focus patrol of the park and beach area during July and also a “weekend blitz” campaign by township bylaw enforcement.

If unruly behaviour problems continue despite the beach patrol, the township may consider restricting access to the park and beach area.