Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Beachgoers mostly observe distancing in Boca Raton, Delray
After nearly two months without being allowed on the beach, people in Palm Beach County mostly stuck to the rules of social distancing Monday.
Beaches throughout the county reopened Monday after several weeks of closures. The beach on Singer Island in Riviera Beach and at South Inlet Park in Boca Raton remain closed.
Boca Raton’s beaches were without lifeguards or restrooms.
A couple dozen people were on the sand or in the water, with most following the rules. A small number of people were laid out on towels or chairs. By afternoon, thunderstorms were rolling over the beach.
Many more people were on the
sand in Delray Beach.
Just north of Nassau Street, dozens of people were on the beach, though families and couples were keeping their distance from each other. A small prop plane flew over the water doing loop-de-loops and barrel rolls.
Police officers patrolled the Delray beach and stopped to talk with people who had bags and were just sitting on the sand. In Delray, people were allowed to walk on the sand and swim, but they were not allowed to put down chairs or towels down or congregate in groups larger than 10.
“You can’t sunbathe … You can walk or jog and we’re allowing a little swimming,” a lifeguard said. “We’re trying to let people get a little R & R but not too much R & R.”
Delray banned sunbathing at its beaches, but the county allows it on most other beaches.
An elderly couple was approached by a police officer who informed them of the rules. The couple did not want to be identified as they were concerned they were in violation of the rules.
“We can swim and walk,” the woman said. “This is a good start.”
Spread across the surf were men using metal detectors. None reported having found anything significant. “I thought first day back I’d get a head start,” said one of them, Michael, of Delray Beach. “But so far just some loose change.”
Palm Beach County commissioners approved the reopening at a special meeting on May 15. Beaches remain closed in Broward and Miami-Dade, where officials don’t plan to reopen until at least next week, after the Memorial Day weekend.
Larry Russell, a Palm Beach County lifeguard representing the U.S. Lifesaving Association, urged commissioners to delay reopening beaches until after Memorial Day.
Police broke up a volleyball game in the sand in Delray. The players were told that they were too close and had to be moving along.
Three people near them were throwing a football around and were told that was OK as long as they remained six feet apart. That was a challenge while playing volleyball.
Further north, about two dozen protesters called for the reopening of beaches on Singer Island in Riviera Beach.
The city council voted Friday to keep its beaches closed. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ state orders have allowed individual municipalities to have stricter policies than those at the state or county level.
“I support opening the beaches on Singer Island,” Riviera Beach City Council Member Julia Botel, whose district includes Singer Island, said in an email Monday.
“I have a great deal of respect for my colleagues on City Council,” she continued. “At least two of them wanted to keep the beaches closed. While I understand their reluctance to open the beaches (based on health concerns) I believe the plan designed by our City Manager, Jonathan Evans will ensure that people are observing CDC guidelines and enjoying the beach while socially distancing.”
Reached by phone Monday morning, Palm Beach County Commissioner Hal Valeche, whose district includes Riviera Beach, said the issue was complicated, because there are countyowned beaches in Riviera Beach, which he says confuses people who want to walk the beach but cannot walk through certain cityowned areas.
“We have some county parks there where the beaches are open and people are emailing me saying, ‘Can we walk? We live on the beach,’ but there’s maybe a Riviera Beach beach between them and the county beach,” Valeche said.
Riviera Beach’s city council has a special meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday to discuss reopening its beaches.