Chicago Park District and Hollywood Gay Beach - Are the Gays Being Harassed? And Whose Rules Are These, Anyways?!
When you go to the Chicago Park Districts information page about beaches, all you can find is ...
The Chicago Park District manages the city's 26 miles of open and free lakefront for the enjoyment of Chicago residents and visitors. Admission to Chicago's beaches is free.
We invite you to walk, eat, jog, catch some rays, bike, rollerblade, sail, play volleyball, explore, or just relax along Chicago's lakefront. We hope you enjoy this summer at the lake.
The 2009 Beach season runs Friday, May 22 to Monday, September 7. Swimming is permitted and lifeguards are on duty at all beaches from 11:00am to 7:00pm, unless otherwise posted. The following beaches open earlier at 9:30am: Leone, Montrose, North Avenue, 31st Street, 63rd Street, South Shore and Calumet.
For questions regarding Chicago's Beaches, call 312-74BEACH
The site also talks about cleanliness....
I have looked high and low, from Bryn Mawr to Hollywood, and I saw no rules or restriction signs, of any kind. I had heard, there was NO SMOKING, NO PETS, and NO BOTTLES/GLASS/ALCOHOL, and that MOST TOYS are NOT ALLOWED on the beach itself. However, when I called the Alderman Mary Ann Smith's office, even they were not totally sure. They directed my questions to the Chicago Park Districts, and as of this publishing, no one has returned my calls yet.
The reason we bring all of this up, is last summer, a group of friends and myself were at the Foster Beach. And within 2 hours, the police showed up, escorting us off the beach because someone reported NUDITY amongst us, which I can tell you is a false lie! Two of my friends were told to get off the beach property or be arrested! So we left against our will, for being accused of something, that never even happened.
Fast forward to 2009. I never went back to Foster beach again! And I started going to Hollywood Beach, where the Southern end of the beach attracts a very large gay crowd. On more than one occasion, I have seen people smoking on the beach, (one guy even had a 3 foot tall hookah pipe!) I have witnessed beer bottles, wine bottles, and the occasional small pet, including miniature dogs and a rabbit, who was on a harness!
(sign from a beach in FLORIDA)
So I asked 3 different lifeguards - who all asked to remain anonymous...SO, WHATS THE DEAL WITH BEACH RULES??
One girl said that they turn in an order for signs every Spring. And as of July 12th, Hollywood Beach still had no signs.
Another female lifeguard said, "Our main duty is to watch the water for swimmers. However, if we see someone smoking, we are supposed to ask them to put it out. But that is not our number one priority." When I asked about alcohol - she answered, "We were told DO NOT enforce that one! Sometimes drinkers are belligerent or can get mean, so we were told, just let them drink!"
I asked a male lifeguard about the rabbit and two small Chihuahuas I saw on the beach. He said, "Well technically, I don't think animals are allowed here. They are supposed to go to the dog beaches. But hey, if they are tiny and not bothering anyone, some of us just look the other way, it's not a priority."
In recent weeks we have heard of patrons of Hollywood Beach being harassed by the twenty-something arrogant lifeguards. And on at least two occasions around July 4th, the police were called out. So really, it appears, that it all depends on who is on duty and how busy the beach is!
SO BEWARE! You could be harassed, possibly ticketed, and possibly even arrested, for rules that perhaps do or do not exist!
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Categories: Beach, Summer Fun, Outdoors, Chicago Information
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