Tower Shoreline Beach... Next Spring?
After Brian arrived we walked to the far end of the peninsula towards the observation deck. When we reached the end I pointed towards the land in question while Brian proceeded to stand there taking it all in. After a few moments he declared, “It’s a beach.” Then he said, “Wow!” The two of us climbed down to the edge of the water and looked back the entire length of the marina. This is not just a future beach… this is a big-time recreational area. It was right there and then that Brian began to make phone calls.
The first phone call that he made was to Mike Wolasz of the sewer authority. Mike also happens to run The Hatch restaurant at the marina. When Brian hung up the phone he turned to me and smiled. He said, “You’re not going to believe this… Mike says that this area is called Tower Shoreline Beach. He told me that he could get us all of the sand that we needed and could also get rid of the driftwood for free, through landscapers that have been inquiring about it. This beach already looks like a homerun.”
Of course there are some big boulders along the water’s edge too, but all in all this beach looks like a no-brainer. There are already facilities there too. There are bathrooms, places to buy food… there’s even a small corner store nearby in one of the Marine Drive Apartments. The scenic vista is breathtaking. Not only is it great boat watching, you can also see the lighthouse… and even the windmills are visible in the distance. And the beach is all fine sand that extends way out into the water. Not that there will be swimming, but the view is beautiful as one looks out towards the break wall. There’s even parking!
Brian has since called the Mayor who is excited about the possibility and is planning to come take a look at the beach first hand. Brian is also introducing the proposal in front of Common Council this Tuesday! When we climbed back up to where people were walking (behind the big boulders) Brian began to ask passersby what they thought of the idea. The first group all chimed in, “We were just discussing how sad it was that there was not a beach there, and what a mess it looks like instead.” One lady said, “Oh, if I could just dip my feet in the water.” As if any normal person would have said anything else!!!!
Brian is starting a committee to move the idea forward and hopes that the beach will be open as early as next spring.
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Comment Options
MRodgers
That's just like Brian Davis. As soon as the wheels get churning, Brian is on the phone or in offices making contacts to get the job started...or even done. It has been my pleasure to work with him on various issues and projects for the past five years. What a tremendous asset we have in this councilmember!
And, for any of those who would refute my comment - all one needs to do is to go into an issues meeting with an idea or some form of solutions and Brian is there - all the time - he's a true Buffalo born and bred citizen first.
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mpitman
"Not that there will be swimming" ... why not? Couldn't the city hire youth as lifeguards for a couple months in the summer?
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platt4
With the lake levels declining, we could have miles of beach soon. :)
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300miles
This is great news. The part that bothers me is that people have been talking about buffalo needing a beach for YEARS. People have specifically been talking about the sand beach on the Marina for YEARS. I don't understand why the good people of City Hall seem to be clueless that these issues exist until a reporter/blogger has to drag them out of city hall down to the shore and personally point it out to them.
Oh Well... in the end, the right thing is getting done. That makes me happy :)
P.S. how are they getting the sand for free? Does the city have a pile somewhere?
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btal
Sounds like a good idea.
I imagine there won't be swimming because of the water quality. But I bet a beach is a great way to get people to care about how clean the water is! This could lead to a lot of good things.
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JohnB
It'll be important to post some rules or such for boats and skidoos with limits on their acceptable approaches to the new beach.
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IMADIVA
I have pictures dating back 20 years and more of my family picnicking on this stretch of sand and driftwood. My kids and I would climb down to waters edge and their dad would bring up the rear with the picnic hamper. I'm surprised that others haven't made use of this over the years.
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lizzyb
No car traffic allowed anymore down that stretch...scooters either.Little red wagons,or a shuttle that would transport peeps with their stuff. And a police presence to keep peace and order. These are not tough issues to get passed. I used to go to a cute beach under the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie. Not too long just enough to soak up the rays and people watch. A grand scheme. Go for it. Get r done...soon. Idea plan execute in 9 months. Impress me.
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BROKEEPSBLOCKINGME
DAVIS IS GREAT AT FORMING COMMITTEES...BUT THEY DONT DO MUCH AFTERWARD
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chrish
All that's needed after the addition of sand and the removal of the driftwood is a safe wooden stairway leading down. Good job, Newell and Brian!
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Dan
They should build a beach on the East Side instead, where it's really needed.
/checks map
Never mind.
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chris69
well if you can put a beach here, then why cant you create one at LaSalle Park?
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chris69
HOW MUCH COMMON SENSE DOES IT TAKE TO THINK THAT IF WE CAN PUT A BEACH WITH SAND AT THE EDGE OF LASALLE PARK
The Niagara Expressway would be like chicagos lakeside drive
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Emjay
I can't help but laugh at the fact that neither the Councilman or the Mayor had any clue this existed until Newell told them about it.
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42nate
It is a great little stretch of sand, which the lake replenishes, not human beings, as far as I know. That's a good thing.
But if your idea of a beach is pristine sand as far as the eye can see, well, the lake has different plans. The lake likes to deposit huge driftwood logs and other litter there. Who is going to do the cleanup every spring? Those logs are just too big to stash in Glad bags during shoreline cleanups.
Everyone who ever wanted interesting driftwood pieces for gardens or coffee tables should go prospecting now before it all gets towed away. Woodworkers, take note.
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lizzyb
I'll sign up for the beach clean up crew. I love the beach I love a clean beach. Who's with me? But you have to let me ride my scooter to the site to clean. Special dispensation for the clean up scooter bragade. I'll take it to the parking lot afterward. Really...little red wagons for lugging. a buck or two to rent per visit. That covers the cost of the person working the rental of wagons. Beaches people....Follow through....it's all in the follow through. Thanks Newell
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zimmermann
Newell, you're unbelieveable. That's really great waterfront news.
When you mentioned the idea last year, I saw a huge wall of liability and red tape. And you cut right through that. Congratulations!! Can't wait for the beach!
....Sandbaummer Beach.
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AuburnAve
Rich people on Marine Drive and other boat owners will never allow this to happen. You think they want young half naked minorities running around their boat slips? I dont think so.
I love the idea - I just see it as another pie in the sky idea that will never get finished.
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Keith
So AuburnAve, all rich people are white? All of them are racist? All of the people that go to the beach will be non-white and poor, of course? Please write more intelligent comments.
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hrbuffinstuff
AuburnAve instead of starting with failure in mind, which leaves no option but failure, perhaps you should consider possibilities and make attempts at sucess. Having an open mind is the first step toward getting anywhere, while assuming failure is a 100% guarantee of zero action, and failure. Self fulfilling prophesy.
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Ken
While they are at it, can they get rid of the crap that has been growing thru the rocks? There is one bush(for lack of a better term) down at the hatch end and another big one at the tower end.
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Spaulding97
I guarentte people will swim there. lets go to the beach... and not swim? Its a good idea, should have been open years ago.
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Spaulding97
Damn it, Guarantee
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gaustad
This a great idea - no matter who uses the beach - there are all walks of like at erie basin marina - and will add to the value of our waterfront.
HOWEVER, This area was never developed not because it was overlooked. I am sure the water is very polluted. A beach will only invite people to swim. I believe the drift wood is there to deter people from swimming in this part of the lake. .......
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AuburnAve
You guys are all so stupid. Be honest and think about how things happen in Buffalo. You both really think that THE MOST segregated city in the US would want a public beach right near their precious boat launches?l
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Keith
Queenseyes, What about just getting some friends that own a chainsaw and opening the beach yourselves?
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gaustad
Auburn Ave - you should patrol the new beach next summer and just charge andmission
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sbrof
I always thought how easy this would be to get started, that sand if there natuirally already from years of currents bringing it in from the lakes. Therefore I don't think keeping the sand there would be a problem.
Hell there is a HUGE pile of it off of the fuhrmann Blvd all year round, just get some of that and dump it here, mix it up and say done! the wood can be used for a number of things. big pieces could be chopped up and sold for firewood or donated to state parks, benched can be created, or even a creative artist could use the materials to build the infrastructure (stairs, signs,benches etc.. needed in and around the Erie Basin Marina.)
as a last option if people thought it would be too expensive, why not just make a big bon fire and invite everyone sell some beer and have a good time. There is nothing around there that would start on fire and you could do it when the boats are already pulled and the marina is closed. Doesn't seem like a bunch of sticks and logs should really get in the way. I am sure if they even just pulled it up and made it accessible to the road people would just start taking it for one reason or another, fireplaces, furnaces, art.. whatever.
I am really glad that BR has actually brought this and other things to the attention of politicians. It is really amazing that anyone who lives in Buffalo has never seen or thought of this place as having more potential than a dumping ground for the lakes driftwood.
as for swimming how about a sign that says swim at your own risk. costs 100 bucks and if people are stupid enough to drown or not watch their kids then it is their own fault. I really hate it when all of us are punished and limited with our rights because of few people can control themselves.
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magnum
News flash people, anything north of the Buffalo River will be poor water quality. period. Google the image of Buffalo and look at all the Brown water, would you swim in it? Would you swim in the Buffalo River? Now look at the Light house were the Coast Guard is, nice crystal blue water. Brian Higgins has already made a request to get some of this land back for the citizens for Buffalo, haven't heard anything more about this. Given the proximity to Bass Pro inner harbour, this plan I'm proposing would only attract more people downtown. If enough of us CONTACT Brian Higgin's office, maybe we could have a large, functional beach, close to other attractions.
A beach needs to be on Lake Erie, not near the mouth of an old industrial river.
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tonyarmani
Any chance this is going to be a topless beach? Maybe it will get Willis back here??
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PrincetonElms
The lake & river currents, commercial shipping, dredging by the Army Corps of Engineers, pollution, and winter storms are all reasons why Buffalo will not ever have a bathing beach. This little accumulation of sand (about 120 wide, yes?) is too small for a public beach, as well as being a few yards from water which is dredged to 21+ feet deep, AND within close range of at least 4 storm/raw sewage outfalls which dump many times each year.
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/aoc/buffalo.html - This page should be studied by anyone who is planning contact with the water in that area. You'd be foolish just to handle the sand without gloves.
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KernwatchMN
Today's Bflo News added more momentuum to a very good idea.
Clean-up could be expedited by opening the diftwood-littered beach at designated times for scavengers or volunteers to come in with chainsaws to remove free firewood for themselves or to sell as a beachbuidling fundraiser.
Thanks to BfloRising & Brian Davis for pushing a long-overdue inititiative.
COPY: http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/155351.html
Erie Basin Marina may get a beach; But swimming would be unlikely
By Brian Meyer NEWS STAFF REPORTER
Updated: 09/05/07 6:54 AM
Sunbathing rituals will end soon, but city officials are looking ahead to next summer, when a beachfront may be created at Erie Basin Marina.
The Common Council unanimously approved a bill Tuesday that calls on city officials to look into cleaning up a stretch of shoreline near the marina’s observation tower and converting it into a sandfilled recreational area.
While it’s unlikely that swimming would be permitted at the site, given the water current and other factors, officials said it could become a picturesque spot for sunbathing, boat-watching and other summer pastimes.
Mayor Byron W. Brown, who frequents the marina and was inspecting the site last weekend, said he’s eager to find out whether the plan could work.
“It’s certainly a creative idea that’s worth exploring,” Brown said. “It would seem to be a very good location. It’s a beautiful area . . . .”
Ellicott Council Member Brian C. Davis sponsored the resolution but gave credit to the Web site Buffalo Rising for advancing the idea. Davis said the area in question is already known as Tower Shoreline Beach. He’s convinced that unsightly rocks, driftwood and other debris could be removed with relative ease.
“I think it would take us a matter of a week or two,” Davis said.
But cleaning up the site is only one issue. Before a beach area could be created, Brown said, the city would have to answer several key questions, including how much money it would cost to operate the site. Public works officials will take a closer look at the proposal in the coming months.
The downtown marina already has some amenities to support a beach area, advocates insisted, including bathrooms, parking and a restaurant.
This isn’t the first time a push has been launched to turn the stretch of waterfront land into a beachfront. Davis said the idea was proposed years ago before Brown was mayor, but it “fell on deaf ears.”
bmeyer@buffnews.com
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