Despite all the water the North Atlantic spills into Long Island Sound, Lighthouse Point Park may soon turn dry.
The cause isn’t global warming. It’s a proposal headed for the Board of Aldermen.
The proposal would ban all alcoholic drinks from the popular park beginning some time in 2010. The parks commission voted unanimously Wednesday night to pass the proposal and send it over to the aldermen.
The proposal originated with Parks Commissioner and Morris Cove Alderwoman Arlene DePino (pictured laughing).
“I’m happy,” DePino said after the meeting. “We still have a fight on our hands, but I’m very happy, and we’ll take it to the next level. I welcome having a public hearing so we can hear from the public and see what they think.”
DePino said she doesn’t think banning alcohol will have any effect on how much money the city brings in from the park. She called it a family park, where families will still go whether or not they can booze it up.
“City ordinance says there shall be no drinking on public property,” said DePino, during the meeting.
City parks chief Bob Levine said that ordinance isn’t being enforced very well. Commissioners agreed that it’s harder to calm down people who when they’re drunk — and that the city should work on doing it better.
DePino has been advocating a Lighthouse drinking ban since she raised it in July, citing out of control picnickers.
Kevin Walton, a parks commissioner, voiced concern that a ban may not make a difference.
“Whether it’s a drinking ordinance or no drinking ordinance, people are gonna drink,” said Walton. “I’m more concerned about the incidents of residential violation, or violation of property that Arlene spoke about.”
Levine said that if nothing’s currently being done to stop unruly park visitors, “it’s truly an enforcement issue.”
“The public indecency and dumping litter in people’s lawns, that kind of stuff is just so inappropriate,” Levine said.
Parks Commissioner Georgia Miller agreed that enforcement is the big challenge. She suggested asking the Board of Aldermen for money for enforcement.
“Instead of somehow banning liquor entirely, could we somehow get extra funding for full-time enforcement?” asked Miller (pictured).
Levine said the issue is enforcement of all park rules across the city. He said the rules shouldn’t be enforced only when a problem arises, like at Lighthouse. Whether or not the aldermen agree to ban, there needs to be more enforcement targeted at out-of-control drinkers, Levine said.
No Smiley Face
Commissioners Wednesday night also passed a motion to put bumper stickers on parks department vehicles with slogans that help remind residents to pick up after themselves.
Miller said these stickers could discourage people from throwing litter on the ground.
While the idea for stickers originally arose this summer, commissioners said they hoped to find a positively phrased admonition. But Wednesday night Commissioner David Belowsky suggested a more direct slogan.
“‘No litter,’” Belowsky said.
“Motion carries,” Belowsky announced. “We’re gonna write something on the trucks.”