BEHAVE YOURSELVES!

Mayor Don Iveson has served notice that the Accidental Beach is on probation. Actually, it’s Edmontonians who are on notice and not the long, sandy oasis that appeared last year as an unintended consequence of upstream LRT bridge construction.

Behave badly like we did last year and no more beach for us, Iveson scolded, sounding like an exasperated dad in the front seat of the family car, or as he self-described, the fun-hating preacher in the movie Footloose.

“If this thing is still the wild west a year from now, then I’m not going to be interested in spending money studying how to make this permanent at all,” Iveson warned.

At stake is any municipal funding to turn what is now a happy accident in Cloverdale into an official and permanent amenity and to explore the possibility of developing other beaches for public enjoyment throughout a river valley that, for all its beauty and recreational potential, remains sorely under-appreciated.

Iveson is right to call out the behaviour of some beach-goers whose deportment last summer sadly degenerated from Beach Boys chill to Lord of the Flies anarchy. At council’s executive committee meeting Wednesday, Cloverdale residents reported incidents of late-night partying, parking congestion, speeding, litter and people urinating or defecating in bushes and neighbourhood yards. Portable toilets set up to accommodate the new crush of visitors were toppled weekly and fires were set on the beach.

Much of last year’s disorder likely stemmed in part from limited enforcement of the rules. Municipal peace officers weren’t sure they had jurisdiction on the beach, which is Crown land. The city is promising stepped-up patrols this season to ensure visitors obey fire and alcoholpossession bylaws and an 11 p.m. curfew. Officials are also looking at a parking-control program, more garbage cans and portable toilets, increased parking on 98 Avenue and speed reductions throughout the neighbourhood.

Keeping the Accidental Beach, and possibly getting others like it, is expected to require several years of planning and design work along with the onerous matter of obtaining provincial and federal approvals.

Bad behaviour will only complicate matters and sap the already eroded political will from city council needed to pursue this opportunity. One can only imagine the parental lecture from Mayor Iveson a year from now if things don’t improve, “This is why we can’t have nice things.”

Visitors to the Accidental Beach this year must mind their manners, obey the rules and respect the neighbours while enjoying this unexpected gift. Or, it might be taken away.