Silver Lake may reopen this summer — without lifeguards and with limits
COVID-19 destroyed trips to Silver Lake Beach last summer — at least, the legal ones.
With vaccinations rolling out and cases going down, the Recreation Department hopes to re-open Silver Lake Beach, with a few caveats. Rangers, rather than lifeguards, may be monitoring the beach and season passes will be limited to three visits a week, according to a plan that will go before Select Board Tuesday.
The proposal calls for four time slots for visitors, with a maximum of eight families allowed at a time. The cost would be $5 per visit for a day pass (projected revenue:$10,400) or $45 for a season pass (projected revenue:$3,375). Crowds may increase depending on the state’s distancing mandates.
Only residents will be allowed at Silver Lake and reservations could be made only three days in advance. No-shows will be given a strike and, as in baseball, three strikes would mean your days at the beach are out.
The beach may run at a “Swim at Your Own Risk” plan, with park rangers monitoring. It would cost about half of the $100,000 lifeguard payroll and make it easier to find staff, especially since lifeguards may find it difficult to get recertified this year.
The rangers would remind beachgoers to adhere to Covid measures, monitor the beach, and call police if there are emergencies.
The Select Board will discuss the matter on Tuesday.
