OUR TURN: Time for Marble Falls to take the beach

The Marble Falls Parks and Recreation Commission is considering building a beach on or near Lake Marble Falls to attract more visitors.

The commission April 4 discussed whether the creation of a sandy beach for public swimming along the lake might bring more tourists to the city, as well as provide a new recreation outlet for residents.

The talks only are in the early stages and there aren’t any cost estimates, though the parks department is looking into that.

Meanwhile, all we can say is, “Where do we plant the umbrella and roll out the beach blanket?”

Commissioner Wendy Fitzer suggested the city construct a beach about the size of a football field along the lakefront south of the public boat ramp near Lakeside Pavilion, 307 Buena Vista Drive.

Others have suggested that it be located closer to Johnson Park, where there is a natural curve in the creek that feeds into the lake.

Either way, it probably won’t even cost that much.

The City Council will have final approval.

What a novel idea … building a beach on an existing lake that already provides a great venue for boating recreation, picnics and breathtaking sunsets.

The proposal makes a lot of sense.

It’s been brought up before, but now that the city and the Marble Falls/Lake LBJ Chamber of Commerce are exploring several tourism initiatives, it is time the beach project became a reality.

Right now, there are lots of people — including some parks and rec commissioners — who think this idea is just as smart as breaking out a tube of SP40 sunblock on a cloudless day in August.

For years now, city leaders, commissions, board members, volunteers and plain old pundits have cast their nets far and wide for proposals to boost sales taxes and tourism.

The ideas certainly aren’t short on variety.

Tours to a bat cave … a train ride to Marble Falls .. enhancing the downtown area … signs that attract motorists to historic Main Street … a regional sports complex … and more.

All of these have merit. Some will be harder to do than others. But few seem as easy as trucking in loads of sand and building a beach on a lake already made famous by the LakeFest drag-boat races, the Christmas Walkway of Lights and even the July Fourth fireworks display.

File the beach idea under no-brainer.

Of course, there always are challenges.

Those include keeping swimmers safe from boat traffic on the lake, maintenance of the shoreline, adequate parking without creating congestion in the neighborhood, trash and related safety issues.

In addition, legal standards are more stringent for lifeguards posted at a beach than for lifeguards at a swimming pool. The city would have to be able to address those liability  issues.

But these are not insurmountable challenges. People have been using — and building — beaches for years. It’s not rocket science.

But it could be the ticket that attracts more visitors to Marble Falls, while also providing locals a great place to hang out.

No one’s ever going to yell “Surf’s up” if this thing gets built, but at least the streets can ring with, “Hey, let’s hit the beach.”

Cowabunga.