Where Has Our Beach Gone?

Last weekend I went down to, what I have always called, south beach. That beautiful stretch of pristine beach in front of the Hotel Del where I have spent so many wonderful moments from the late 1950s to now. The image of vast open beautiful white sand that leads down to the shore was the picture that I expected. But that was not the sight that I found. What I saw horrified me, and I do not use that term lightly. It also angered me, made me cry, and left me wondering just where I was. This could not be Coronado.

What I found was this beautiful beach had been confiscated by the Hotel Del and turned into some type of Vegas beach bar. First were the signs that laid claim to at least two-thirds of the beach. These posted signs started at the beginning of the beach walk, all along the walk, down the beach along the palm trees more than half-way to the shore, and across the beach from that point almost all the way to the rocks!

And what did these posted signs say? Welcome to Del Beach, please see an attendant for beach services. They have renamed the beach, and sectioned off the beach with signage, but it didnt stop there. Inside the sign-fenced area was another area with a real plastic fence that enclosed what seemed like hundreds of red and white lounges and some huge cabanas thrown in too. Of course there were more cabanas and lounges strewn within the posted sign area, and a couple of beach shacks were thrown in for check-in and guest services.

Ah, the guest services, now being served on our beach, for those who are allowed in, are cocktails. Yes, alcohol and smoking are allowed and welcome on this beautiful, sectioned off beach.

And you do need to be a guest or member or something. When I tried to walk onto this new Del Beach within seconds I was approached by a man in a white shirt who asked me if I was a guest or member. It was the first time in over 50 years that I was asked for a reason for being on the beach.

When I asked what was going on, and if they had a permit to take over so much of the beach, another man said it was private property! I saw one or two more white shirts (and a red shirt too) coming toward me so I turned and got off their beach.

This is not fair and is not right. The beach belongs to everyone, locals and tourists alike. Is this fair to the tourists that do not stay at the Del? What about all the people that are staying at other Coronado hotels, or all the people that come from all over San Diego County to visit our beaches?

Now dont get me wrong, I love the Del. So many memories from childhood on are centered at the hotel. I use their spa, and encourage friends and family to stay there. I realize that they are a good friend to our city, but sometimes even good friends can go too far and need to be reminded that friendships go both ways, the city does a lot for the hotel also.

This beach grabbing, without letting the residents know and confer on is wrong. It is especially wrong when their posted boundaries are just short of the water so that our Coronado lifeguards are responsible for the safety of these guests. Even if they are breaking our citys laws about drinking and smoking on the beach.

The turning of a beautiful pristine beach into some type of Hollywood/ Las Vegas pool party layout is not only wrong but it is so ugly.

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Where Has Our Beach Gone?