(Michigan City, IN) - Washington Park Beach in Michigan City is open again but current restrictions in place are dampening attedance during the last few weeks of summer.  The popular lakefront destination reopened August 27 to people with 2019 or 2020 season passes to provide adequate social distancing space.  Beachgoers are also required to wear masks at all times unless they’re in the water.

 

Mayor Duane Parry used his executive authority to override a decision by the city council to keep the beach closed until at least September 13.  Parry said he wanted to provide limited access to the beach in a safe manner as the curtain begins closing on the season.  Despite the restrictions along with cool temperatures and rip currents from high waves keeping swimmers out of the water, “we had a fair amount of people at the beach,” he said.

 

Season passes are provided at no cost to Michigan City residents.  Other residents of La Porte County are charged $25 while people from outside LaP orte County pay $40 for a season pass.  Parry said more than 18,000 season passes are issued annually.

  

He said season passes are currently not being issued since it's lates in the sason.  Parry indicated they are considering lisfting the season pass restriction for Labor Day weekend, but that decision was not expected until late in the week.

 

The beach was closed for six weeks when unusually large crowds and lack of social distancing after July 4 generated major concerns about the potential for a spread of COVID-19.  Parry said many employees working at the gate have returned to school but enough city employees from elsewhere were found to cover the gap for the beach to reopen.  “The employees took it upon themselves to step forward and manage the gate,” he said.

 

Parry said it’s too early to know if any restrictions will be in place for the beach next summer because of the pandemic still being an ongoing situation.