Siesta Seen
reliably not enter areas where people are
swimming," Patterson said.
On March 5, the County Commission consid-
ered a request by Alfieri and LaBonte to allow
Alfieri to rent paddleboards at the beach under
a six-month trial program. After discussing
various aspects of the proposal, the commis-
sioners asked county staff to ascertain public
views on it before making a decision.
The matter is expected to again come up
before the County Commission in September,
Carolyn Brown, director of the county's
Parks and Recreation Department, told me
last week.
Patterson said during the SKA meeting that
she suggested Alfieri consider offering lessons
with the rentals, ensuring close supervision
of participants. He responded that another
possibility is renting the boards to people for
guided excursions, which would entail expe-
rienced users accompanying the renters. "He
actually said [the latter idea] really might be
better for his business," she noted.
"I told him to bring to you guys that thought
and see what the response is," Patterson
added. "I'm not taking a stand at this point,
but that, to me, would be a preferable way of
dealing with [an expansion of paddleboard-
ing on Siesta]."
SUP Sarasota has proposed paddleboard rentals at the concessionary facility at Siesta Public Beach.
Image from the business' website
Sarasota News Leader June 27, 2014 Page 65
