Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer each year, but that doesn’t make the final beach days any easier. Crowds headed to Ocean Beach Park last weekend to capitalize on a few final chances to take in one of the many highlights of the City by the Sea.
The beach season, which began with weekend-only access on May 23 and opened every day on June 19, yielding a longer than average operational time — meaning more beach time for all. “Honestly, this year was a beautiful beach year,” said Massi Decarolis from Oceanside as she left Lafayette Boulevard Beach after spending four hours.
Aside from agreeable weather and an extended calendar, every beachgoer saw a distinct upgrade to their visits after the “Tickets to Paradise” booth-painting project helped to further beautify the beach. The simple wooden sheds at nearly every beach entrance were turned into genuine pieces of artwork from talented local artists. The city also installed additional access mats, “Mobi-mats,” with a total of 13 beach entrance points now accommodating people with wheelchairs, walkers or strollers.
Long Beach resident Jean Fay racked up roughly five hours of beach time on Saturday, despite some natural nuisances. “I like when there’s no flies. Today, there were a lot of flies because have a north wind.” Aside from the unavoidable insect issue, Fay managed to end the season on a positive note. “We always love the beach,” Fay explained. “Always good times with family. It was a good day out.”
At the absolute end of the season, when lifeguards on every stand blew their whistles for the final time, calling in swimmers at 6 p.m. Monday evening, the annual round of applause and celebration broke out to close the summer in appreciation. With the beach season concluded and lifeguards remaining off-duty, swimming is officially prohibited.