The Sandy Beach Subcommittee of the Parks & Recreation Commission on Wednesday evening outlined some safety measures to prevent jet skiers from veering too close to swimmers and to stop after-hours partying and barbecuing.

Sabine St. Pierre, president of the Lake Maspenock Preservation Association (LMPA), said the biggest problem she has observed this summer is with jet skiers speeding and coming dangerously close to swimmers.

“They’ve now created their own swimming area,” she explained. “So now, not only are they partying out there but also having their jet skis there.”

Added St. Pierre: “A lot of lake residents are really frustrated by the jet skis because it’s a big safety issue.”

Parks & Recreation Director Jon Lewitus said his understanding was that most of this activity happens after hours and on the weekends, calling it “the wild west.” He has spoken with the police, and the department has stepped up patrols of the area and is issuing tickets.

He added that staff at the beach have tried speaking to the jet skiers to deter their behavior.

“It’s really a reeducation process,” Lewitus explained. “For years we have had these policies and procedures in place, except they haven’t been enforced.”

St. Pierre also suggested a gate at the boat launch, noting there was one previously. The goal would be to stop boat trailers from putting boats and jet skis into the water after hours. She said the LMPA potentially could pay for it.

In the meantime, members discussed putting up a chain to close off the area during off hours as a temporary solution.

Lewitus said St. Pierre should write an official request that the Parks & Recreation Commission could review. She agreed and offered to research gate types.

Lewitus also suggested adding another buoy in that area. St. Pierre said the LMPA discussed that earlier this week. There currently are three buoys that she said could be moved to deter people from entering the swimming area. Conversely, the buoys could create a channel jet skiers would use as a challenge.

While there was no proof that the scofflaws were non-residents, St. Pierre said the license plates she saw were from Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Another problem members observed was people using grills on the beach after hours. The LMPA decided to get stickers to add to signs and picnic tables saying that grilling is prohibited. The area where the jet skiers and others tend to grill is close to pine trees, creating the potential for a large-scale fire.

Staff members address other concerns

Parks & Rec program coordinator/summer supervisor Maureen Sammon said the “biggest complaint” she has received is about non-residents trying to get to the beach and disregarding the gate guards, entering and exiting the wrong way.  Parks & Recreation Commission liaison Laura Hanson agreed, calling it “a serious problem.”

The Parks & Recreation Department’s website states that use of the Sandy Beach Park, including access to the boat launch, is for Hopkinton residents only from June 8 through Labor Day weekend. Access to the park requires the purchase of a seasonal or day pass, which can be purchased at Sandy Beach or online.

One issue Hanson raised is that residents of Milford and Upton also live on the lake but are prohibited from accessing the beach because of this policy.

Said Hanson: “That doesn’t sit well with me.”

She asked that the commission revisit this issue for next summer.

Lifeguards have expressed issues of poor communication with gate guards, according to Hanson. She said a lifeguard told her that the lifeguards “feel like they don’t have communication backup.”

Director Jon Lewitus noted that gate guards and lifeguards have walkie-talkies to use. If anyone is unable to handle a situation, he said, they can radio the beach supervisor or head lifeguard for assistance.

Another problem Sammon mentioned is that the seat for the gate guards partially obstructs their view of the boat launch. Member Seth Kenney agreed, noting that a higher chair would be beneficial, as well as placing it at an angle.

Part of the issue, members said, is that teens in these roles may become overwhelmed by handling multiple tasks, selling various passes, dealing with difficult adults who don’t know the policy, and handling awkward situations.

One example provided by St. Pierre occurred on July 3, when a gate guard was offered marijuana to let in people without passes.

“That’s the kind of stuff where, until it happens, you don’t know how to prepare them,” she said.

St. Pierre suggested color coding passes next year to differentiate between seasonal, day and trailer passes. This discussion led to a consensus that passes should only be sold at the Parks & Recreation office to alleviate strain on staff at the beach.

Despite the concerns raised, Hanson applauded the Parks & Rec staff, saying that this has been the most organized summer at Sandy Beach in years.