Boater Access to SunFest? Maybe Not!

[BMarkey]

The news is not good for boaters who plan to attend SunFest via the water this year. The new, beautiful City of West Palm Beach docks will probably not be open to boaters at "Florida's largest waterfront music and art festival" for the second consecutive year.

An official at SunFest informed me Thursday (March 11) that "permitting and safety issues" will likely to continue keeping the three, 300-foot docks empty for the area's largest event, April 28-May 2. Yes, he referred to the same "issues" which kept the docks dry in 2009.

What issues? How could there still be issues more than a year after the docks were installed, a year after boaters were allowed to come to the Palm Beach International Boat Show (at the same site) unimpeded, and a month after boaters were allowed to use the docks for the grand opening of the West Palm Beach Waterfront?

Last year, officials referred to state and federal permitting as the culprit. This year, some of the same officials said the new West Palm Beach Waterfront was built for tens of millions of dollars, in part to serve SunFest and the annual boat show.

The official was somewhat vague this time as to what if anything might be done to improve bater access. But, he referred to expected problems with boaters entering SunFest drunk, or with alcohol, and safety issues regarding dockage and entrance. He said allowing boaters to come directly into the SunFest site (the main dock was used by pedestrians in 2009) - as opposed to using a water taxi to enter the dock area - would be akin to allowing motorists to drive right into the site, along Flagler Drive on the downtown West Palm Beach Waterfront.

I passionately asked the official how boating to SunFest would be any different from driving right up to the site and parking in a garage. Isn't it possible for a SunFest patron to come into the event after drinking?

The official agreed that boating access was great during the West Palm Beach Waterfront grand opening last month, which drew more than 100,000 people to the SunFest site. Craft of most sizes used the docks. He was there, in a boat. It was a great scene with boaters mingling with pedestrians. The city reported no problems.

I asked what sense it makes to discourage boaters from coming to the area's largest waterfront festival and warned him that many boaters would simply skip SunFest and instead spend the weekend at Peanut Island or elsewhere if they were again banned from coming directly to the event. I offered to find volunteer help in docking boats, ticket checks and sales, checking for drunk and drinking boaters and more.

I also spoke to the official about the water taxi issue - specifically the $10 or $12 per person fee to take the taxi just a few feet from someone's anchored boat to the docks. My complaint is that fee is way too high, it discourages boaters from coming to SunFest, and it certainly keeps them from coming multiple times. Last year, we had to shell out $24 just to have a couple of people go to shore to use a rest room! (My friends purchase advance SunFest tickets tickets.)

The official said he contracts with only one water taxi provider, has no affection for the provider, but uses it because it is the only reliable water taxi available for SunFest. He said he realizes the taxi price is too high but cannot control what the taxi company charges and said the taxi company claims it cannot be profitable without charging the high fee. (I disagree about the issue of controlling what the taxi charges.)

I suggested boater interests offer their own water taxi at reduced rates, or even for free, thanks to corporate sponsorship.

I also spoke to the official about the dangers of anchoring and leaving unattended boats in the Intracoastal during the event. I have witnessed many break-aways and damage to boats due to current changes, poor anchoring, and other issues - not to mention theft.

The SunFest official said the boat show is able to accommodate boaters on site because it installs separate docks for "parking" away from the show site. He acknowledged that officials such as Mayor Lois Frankel had promised the new docks would be open to boaters for the 2010 SunFest, but added that "politics" was involved and the non-for-profit entity that stages SunFest was "thrown under the bus" in the media over this issue.

Frankel told me personally the docks would be open to boaters for SunFest 2010.

The official suggested that perhaps the city-owned but privately managed Palm Harbor Marina, adjacent to SunFest, could be used for boater access. I pleaded with the official to at least allow boaters to drop off passengers (maybe with a 5-minute maximum stay) during SunFest - perhaps even for a small fee - and then move away to anchor.

As a longtime SunFest attendee, 33-year Palm Beach County resident and avid boater, I suggested that SunFest form a boaters' committee to consider issues such as boater access, and that boating organizations could volunteer to make the event more accessible.

We boaters can fix this issue.

I received no commitment on this or any other suggestion, but the official was very responsive, friendly and professional.

I encourage all boaters interested in SunFest - especially those like me (I bring lots of friends to the event, but we mix in trips to Peanut Island, fishing, etc.) - to contact West Palm Beach city and SunFest leaders to implore them to grant us the access we paid for and deserve. Below please find the contact numbers for key officials:

Paul Jamieson, Executive Director - Email pjamieson@sunfest.com

Dianna Craven, Sales Director - Email dcraven@sunfest.com

Pam Flanagan, Coconut Ball Coordinator - Email pflanagan@sunfest.com

Dan Goode, Event Manager - Email dgoode@sunfest.com

Stacey Halpin, Sponsorship Manager - Email shalpin@sunfest.com

Sharon Hoffman, Sales Coordinator - Email shoffman@sunfest.com

Pam Sartory, Business Manager - Email psartory@sunfest.com

Melissa Sullivan, Marketing Manager - Email msullivan@sunfest.com

Mayor Lois J. Frankel

P.O. Box 3366

WPB, FL 33402

(561) 822-1400

Email lfrankel@wpb.org

SunFest Web Site

With great response on this issue, the politicians and leaders will do something to help us get what we deserve.

Edited March 12, 2010 by BMarkey

[OReely]

I'm not really a big festival person. I used to go to Sunfest every year but at some point it just got to be too much hassle for me. I do think it's ridiculous to have those docks just sitting there during such an event.

My guess is the people you are dealing with are being overly cautious because of the added risk surrounding boats. Everyone is concerned about lawsuits. It's too bad but that is the society we live in today.

Good luck with the campaign.

[wiley]

I've lost touch a bit with West Palm Beach but will be back in that area soon.

I remember years ago when the waterfront development was a big issue. The boat docks were a huge plus in the popularity of the project. Well, now the development is complete but the docks cannot be used for an Event? If this is the case then that simply stinks.

Is there also an assumption being made that boaters for the most part are a bunch of drunks? What's next, banning pickup truck drivers because they will probably bring their Budweisers and shotguns through the gates?

It's doubtful I'll ever take a boat to Sunfest although I do remember years back in the 90's when the boats anchored right off the North stage literally had the best seats in the house - with all the creature comforts. A "one fee all day" shuttle service to the event from your anchor I would agree to. Parking is parking, you always have to pay.

Hey, it'll probably rain that weekend anyway.

[BMarkey]

I've been going to SunFest since it started in 1982. It's a fantastic festival with excellent musical acts, great art show (not really into that), awesome food, fireworks (Sunday night), etc.

We used to just raft up to the seawall downtown and go in and out at will. Then as the event grew and hundreds of thousands of people started coming, they became more strict about admission and easy boat access stopped. I could understand that.

But now after the city installed these fantastic docks - admittedly especially for use at such great events - not to allow use of them is criminal.

The issue with drinking can be enforced the same way as it is enforced with drivers and bicyclists (yes, SunFest has a special bike parking area at the gates). The docks were built with safety in mind. They worked very well during the waterfront grand opening and fireworks last month, when more than 100,000 people showed up. That is about the same attendance as a big night at SunFest. No one was injured and there was no police activity. It was convenient and fun.

I used to wonder if the no-boat policy was a way to guarantee more money for the water taxis, but the official I spoke to said he really doesn't even like the water taxi company, yet cannot regulate its prices. So ... the event should be opened to competition and all water taxi companies should be allowed to participate. Or, SunFest can regulate the taxi prices by contract. Or, sponsors (radio station, newspaper, developer?) can be found to pay some of the costs of the taxis, so the prices can be kept artificially low, or free. Or, a one-day, multiple trip price for multiple passengers should be set.

At the very least, one dock should be open to allow boaters to drop off their passengers, then anchor out and come in by taxi. A small ticket booth at the seawall could be set up for those who haven't yet bought admission to the event.

We need boaters to e-mail and call SunFest and the city if even any one of these changes is to be made. So far, SunFest has heard from only a few of us.

[Capt Rick Hiott]

I know nothing about this,,,but it sounds like the boaters should stick together and take there money some where else and have there own "Water Fest" get together.

Have it where you can only get there by boat.....................

[stevek185]

I have to disagree about how great the docks worked at the waterfront opening. They had the north dock closed and would allow any docking there until after I left that dock. About 15 minutes after I approached it and they told me it was closed, they opened it. Finally found a spot on the south dock. They would not allow rafting at the dock either. In the middle of the main act, they closed the south dock and asked all people on their boats to leave their boats until after the fireworks. Now with the restrictions for SunFest, it appears that the City of West Palm is doing all that it can to discourage boaters from using the docks during high traffic events. I also went 4th of July in 2009 and used the docks. This system worked the best. They closed the docks to pedistrians (imagine that) and gave wristbands to boaters who docked. Boaters were the only ones allowed on the dock. Solves a lot of problems, doesn't it?

[BMarkey]

I have to disagree about how great the docks worked at the waterfront opening. They had the north dock closed and would allow any docking there until after I left that dock. About 15 minutes after I approached it and they told me it was closed, they opened it. Finally found a spot on the south dock. They would not allow rafting at the dock either. In the middle of the main act, they closed the south dock and asked all people on their boats to leave their boats until after the fireworks. Now with the restrictions for SunFest, it appears that the City of West Palm is doing all that it can to discourage boaters from using the docks during high traffic events. I also went 4th of July in 2009 and used the docks. This system worked the best. They closed the docks to pedistrians (imagine that) and gave wristbands to boaters who docked. Boaters were the only ones allowed on the dock. Solves a lot of problems, doesn't it?

Sorry for your troubles, but I saw boats at the south dock just before and perhaps even during the fireworks. Those boaters I saw (mainly on the center, main dock) appeared to be very happy with the set-up. I do know that city and area officials have said the waterfront and docks were designed with the Palm Beach International Boat Show and SunFest in mind.

[stevek185]

You are correct - the boats were allowed to stay at the dock, but people were not allowed to remain on their boats. They were asked to leave their boats by 8:30. We chose to untie from the dock and anchor in the intercoastal to view the fireworks show.