Windsurf Bay Park at Lake Ray Hubbard has a reputation for attracting large uncontrollable crowds. In addition, there is only one way in and out of the park which makes access difficult for emergency vehicles. And, it has become a nuisance to the surrounding neighborhood because of fights, drunkenness and drug use. The park had to be closed last summer because of these problems.
It is believed that the main draw of Windsurf Bay Park is the access to the water. Suggestions including erecting a fence to block water access and requiring payment to enter the park have been considered.
One of the problems is jurisdiction. The city of Garland owns the land. However, the city of Dallas is the owner of the property beginning at the waterline. This makes rule enforcement difficult for the Garland Police Department.
Council Member Moore’s recommendation
District 4 Council Member Ed Moore has researched the situation and worked with city staff and other officials to find a solution. At a recent council meeting, he explained to Mayor Scott LeMay and the City Council that he felt that the best way to alleviate the problem would be to separate the water from the land. Therefore, he suggested a durable, but attractive wrought iron fence be placed along the water. He also recommended that gates be placed which allow emergency vehicle access. Moore believes that if the water is not accessible, the park wouldn’t draw such large crowds.
Moore suggested that this method be tested this summer with temporary fencing.
Mayor cites past dangerous incident
Mayor Scott LeMay does not support opening Windsurf Bay Park for now. He cited an incident last summer in which two rival gangs had an altercation that resulted in a fight that involved gunfire. Fortunately, no one was shot.
“And the incident last year still happened and we got very, very lucky. When troublemakers get in trouble…the response is generally low-key,” LeMay said. “Some gang members show up and start doing whatever it is gang members do, but the second that an innocent bystander gets caught in the middle of it, the…reaction is going to blow the roof off this building.”
He said that he is not in favor of opening the park back up with the potential for so many serious problems.
“I’m not willing to take the risk of an innocent bystander getting caught up in something in this park…lake access or not — and us not being able to get to them,” LeMay said. “I’m not in favor of changing any operations we are doing on this park now.”
Consensus reached
Consensus was taken. Council Members Ed Moore, Rich Aubin, Deborah Morris, B.J. Williams, Robert Smith and Jeff Bass voted in favor of moving ahead and constructing a temporary fence and see how that works. Council Members Dylan Hedrick and Robert Vera and the mayor voted no on the issure.