Pubdate: Fri, 24 Jun 2005
Source: Penticton Herald (CN BC)
Copyright: 2005 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.pentictonherald.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/664
Author: Laurena Weninger

PARTIERS SCARING FAMILIES AWAY FROM PUBLIC BEACH

OSOYOOS -- Carrie Pfingsttag loves to take her kids to the beach, but 
she's having trouble putting up with some of the things that are 
going on at Osoyoos's prime public beach, Gyro Park

"You don't like to bring your kids down here -- they're drinking, 
doing drugs," Pfingsttag said, nodding toward a group of young people 
lounging up the beach from where she is playing with her toddler

"There's usually three or four dogs. They'll bring them right down to 
the beach, where the kids are." In past years, Pfingsttag has found 
used needles, and has seen people strip to their underwear to bathe 
in the lake. "It's such a turnoff," she said, wondering what it does 
to tourism in the sunny beach town

Don Moore, general manager of South Okanagan Securities, said their 
company responds to many complaints about the beach

"Typically, as many as 150 (will be hanging out), on one part of the 
beach," he said

Many of the complaints are from those living nearby and centre around 
public alcohol consumption

Osoyoos Mayor John Slater said it seems there are a number of people 
who come to town who don't have much respect for the laws and 
regulations -- and they are tough to enforce

"Short of having somebody down there 24 hours a day, it's pretty hard 
to control," Slater said just after checking out the problem for himself

"It's just brutal. We're trying to make sure parents don't have to 
deal with taking the kids around it." A few extra steps have been 
taken this year

The town hired a third full-time bylaw enforcement officer this week, 
and hope the more frequent patrols for public consumption of alcohol 
will help. Recently, the town put in a new bylaw prohibiting dogs in 
the park, which gives the officers a little more control

Alcohol, drug use and general rowdiness are an RCMP matter, and they 
patrol regularly. Moore said there is a general misconception that 
young fruit pickers who come to town are the problem, but that 
shouldn't be the immediate assumption

"Some of the older people phone to complain there are 
French-Canadians in the park -- period," he said

The crew that arrives to pick fruit is usually between the ages of 18 
and 22, and work in the early morning hours. In the afternoon, they 
hang out at the beach

Cultural differences, including the use of bongo drums and 
distinctive clothing, make some people uncomfortable, said Moores. 
But he doesn't think the crew itself is a huge problem

"They do tend to drink beer and wine, and we do deal with that," he 
said, noting as soon as they approach the group, there is compliance

"I haven't had a problem once with the French-Canadian fruit pickers. 
I have far more problems with the local teenagers in the park."

Ultimately, the problem resolves itself somewhat in July and August, 
when more tourists and families fill the beaches, and those who like 
to party move elsewhere.
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