Dune Users Attend Reopening but with Reservations

News reporters almost outnumbered exercisers at Sand Dune Park on Monday morning, as the park's dune was opened to adults for the first time since late last summer. The South Bay's most eager "duners" showed up with online reservation receipts, IDs and the $1 fee in hand in time for the first 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. slot.

"This policy is just inconsistent," said one Manhattan Beach resident who asked to remain anonymous. "If you go out to play basketball or tennis, no one tells you your time is up after an hour. No one asks for a picture ID. This policy really takes away from the ambience."

The giant dune—a popular spot for family recreation for more than 40 years—was closed at the end of last summer due to overcrowding and noise complaints from neighbors. After several heated debates involving residents, the Manhattan Beach City Council and exercise enthusiasts from the city and across the Greater Los Angeles area, a "compromise" was reached whereby the dune would reopen, but under an online reservation system designed to limit the number of visitors.

More sand was added to the dune before opening day and metal fences were used to cordon off the area. Children 12 and under have free, unrestricted access to the dune from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., but anyone 13 or over must reserve a one-hour time slot on the city's website. Only three time slots are offered on Saturdays (8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.) and none on Sundays. There are six weekday time slots between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.—though winter hours run until sunset—and the maximum number of reservations per time slot is 20.

"As long as the dune is back open, the rules are OK with me," said Los Angeles resident Calvin Daniels. "I'm just ecstatic that it's open again. It's a great workout and it's good for kids and families."

Daniels had resorted to purchasing a membership at Bally Total Fitness to keep in shape this last year, but he said it just wasn't the same as his old workout on the dune. Some residents took their workouts to the Strand, but everyone at the park Monday agreed the dune trumps all other fitness regimens.

"It feels great to be here again," said Marina del Rey resident Jennifer Fraser. "There's nothing else like it."

Although Fraser was happy to have her dune back, she worried that the new system was not fair for everyone.

"[The Manhattan Beach City Council members are] doing as they see fit, but I think it alienates people this way," she said. "What about the people who can't get online, or the ones who need to work out before 8 a.m. to fit their work schedules?"

Bill Hory, co-founder of Citizens for Outdoor Recreation and Exercise, a local group opposed to the new dune rules, said the city's policy will likely slash attendance by 75 to 80 percent.

"I agree that the peak usage times should have some restrictions," Hory said, "but to impose these rules during the rest of the day when it's almost empty seems excessive. We are going to try and improve this situation."

According to Manhattan Beach Mayor Mitch Ward, however, the City Council is not planning to make any changes to its policy.

"The community has had a thorough series of meetings to come up with this solution," said Ward. "We the council are satisfied with the process in place and look forward to it working well."