BEACH CRAWLS
Coun. Sam Merulla wants to change our perceptions about swimming in waters off Hamilton
Where are you Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello when you’re needed?
Swimming at the city’s beaches might not be an activity high on everyone’s summer recreation list because of concerns about pollution. Coun. Sam Merulla, however, wants to correct that perception and — copying what helped rejuvenate James Street North — establish Beach Crawls at Hamilton’s five beaches.
“The perception is our bay and lake beaches are polluted and people should not access it because of health reasons,” says Merulla. “The vast majority are as clear as the water in Toronto. There’s a fear of it, but people go to Toronto and swim at their beaches.”
“The goal is really this — increase awareness that 99.9 per cent of our water can be accessed for recreation and swimming.”
Beach water-quality test results from the city have led to the closure for swimming this year at the Bayfront Park Beach in the North End off of Bay Street North. The beach has had a history of high levels of bacteria, such as E. coli and/or toxins. There is a threat of illness or infection.
But open for swimming are the Confederation Park Beach, Van Wagner’s Beach and the Beach Boulevard beach (both on the Hamilton Beach Strip) and the Pier 4 Park Beach at Bay Street North and Leander Drive in the North End. Water-quality tests were done this past week.
Merulla’s call harks back to other times when local politicians talked about swimming in the waters off Hamilton, specifically the Burlington Bay/Hamilton Harbour. In 1975, Ontario Tory cabinet minister George Kerr swam in the bay to fulfil a 1970 pledge that the bay would be clean enough to swim in within five years. The swim was conducted in the atmosphere of a carnival, complete with placard-waving supporters and a band, but Kerr admitted afterwards that the bay was in fact not yet clean enough to swim in. His act was later copied by Sheila Copps and Bob Morrow.
Merulla is introducing a motion at council to have city staff look at establishing Beach Crawls during the summer months, in conjunction with the arts community and food truck operators. He envisions the events being staged on a Saturday or Sunday and anything else, or any group, that could help liven up the day could be sought out by staff.
The councillor hit upon the Beach Crawl idea after talking to an official from the Bay Area Restoration Council when they made a presentation at council a month ago. Both lamented that the beaches were perceived as being unsafe for swimming.
“There’s one beach that is closed, but that is not a reflection of all the beaches,” said Merulla. “There’s no reason people shouldn’t access that water today.”
Also open for swimming are beaches at the conservation areas of Christie, Valens and Binbrook.