Civic Association of Smallwood, New York, Inc.

Beach Rules 2023

The Waterfront Manager is in charge all things related to the use of the swim area at the Beach, including watercraft and swimming beyond the safety ropes. In the Waterfront Manager’s absence, a Front Gate/Deck Co-administrator or a representative designated by the Board of Directors or by the Waterfront Manager shall assume the helm and shall be afforded, by all who use the beach, the same respect and deference as the Waterfront Manager.

All matters related to the front gate, use of the snack shed and its deck, and rules, and regulations related to general use of the Mountain Lake beach facility other than the waterfront is the purview of the Front Gate/Deck Co-administrator.

All facility rules are to be followed by all Members, their households, guests, and those who rent from SWCA Landlord Members at all times. All Beach patrons are subject to the Membership Code of Conduct.

To maintain the good order, safety and general enjoyment of all on and around the Beach, beachgoers must abide by the following rules:

1. Parking or standing in front of the beach entrance gate and fire zone is prohibited with the exception of very quick pick-ups or drop-offs. All beach patrons must respect the handicap parking spaces and leave them available for only those who possess the certification to use them.

2. Upon entering the beach front gate all entrants must sign in by providing proper identification in the form of a valid Membership or valid Guest Card (and if applicable, pay an entrance fee or purchase a Guest Pass Punch Card). At the discretion of the Gatekeeper, an entrant may be asked to produce further identification in the form of a photo ID. Guest Cards are not required for any child three (3) years of age or younger, all of whom MUST be signed in and accompanied by a parent or an adult, at least eighteen (18) years of age or older.

3. All Membership, Guest, & Rental cards will be collected by the gatekeeper and returned to the beach patron upon their exit from the beach.

4. Non-member Smallwood residents may not use another Smallwood resident's Membership Cards or Guest Cards to gain entrance to the Beach. Additionally, Members may not accompany a non-member Smallwood resident to the beach as their guest, without the express written consent of the Board of Directors. Doing so may result in the suspension or revocation of the Member’s benefits or Membership.

5. In the matter of water safety, the lifeguard’s word is law. The Waterfront Manager, in meaningful consultation with the Board of Directors will make all decisions regarding closure of the beach related to weather and safety. In the mater of water quality, the Board of Directors shall make the determination as to whether or not the conditions merit a closure of the swimming area.

6. It is the lifeguard’s decision as to whether or not a beginning or weak swimmer has the requisite skill to be allowed to swim beyond the shallow roped off area or to the raft.

7. Swimming is permitted only when the lifeguard is on duty.

8. Alcohol is prohibited on the beach at all times when the waterfront is open for swimming.  Alcohol may be permitted by special permit as issued by SWCA Board of Directors for an event at the beach during which the waterfront is closed for swimming.

9. Children under the age of twelve (12) must be accompanied by an adult at least eighteen (18) years of age or older, in order to gain entrance to, and remain on, the Beach.

10. No fishing from any area of the lake’s shoreline is permitted at any time in or near the roped off area designated for swimming (inside the decoy Swans floating in the lake).

11. The Association does not provide supervision of any playground equipment, therefore the safety of children playing with and on the equipment becomes the responsibility of the child’s parent or the adult who is responsible for the child’s welfare at the Beach.

12. No barbecues or open fires are allowed except with written permission from the Board of Directors. The fire pit is for special uses only and permission for its use shall be given by the Board of Directors only. No standing in or on the fire pit. Nothing is to be placed in the fire pit, including but not limited to, water or garbage.

13. The Beach may not be used for private parties/celebrations (e.g., a formal gathering, an organization’s gathering or gathering by invitation), without the expressed written consent of the SWCA Board of Directors.

14. No pets (dogs or animals) are permitted on the beach; service animals are permitted (emotional support animals are not permitted).

15. A small tent used as a sun shield for young children is permitted; erecting any other form of shelter, including a larger tent, is prohibited.

16. Before exiting the beach for the day, beachgoers must fill in any holes they or children under their supervision made in the sand.

17. Personal beach trash/recyclables must be places in the appropriate receptacles before leaving the beach. It is prohibited to bring household garbage/recyclables to be left in receptacles at the Beach.

18. Smoking of any type, including vaping, is prohibited on the Beach.

19. All listening devices must be used with headphones.

20. At the discretion of the Gate/Shed Co-Administrator, Waterfront Manager, or the Board of Directors, live acoustic music may be permitted. Once approved, this music shall be played at the far end of the beach beyond the steel playground equipment.

21. No glass containers or drinking glasses are permitted.

22. During Beach operation hours, under the supervision and at the discretion of a Front Gate/Deck Co-Administrators and the Waterfront Manager, kayaks, paddle boards, and inflatable rafts may enter through the front gate and be launched from the beach, but only from beyond the swimming area. Once on the Beach, watercraft must be stored on the shoreline beyond the swimming area. A beachgoer who enters the Beach with watercraft in an unsafe or careless manner more than once will lose the right to do so.

23. Any watercraft that has been sailed to the Beach must be stored beyond the swimming area while a boater uses the Beach. All such watercraft must be removed from the Beach no later than the end of the beach day. Storage of any watercraft on the Beach overnight is prohibited.

24. The Association does not provide chairs or towels (Members should bring their own). Members are responsible to remove all their belongings at the end of the day, including chairs. No personal property may be stored at the beach.

25. The Waterfront Manager, Gate/Deck Co-administrator or a representative of the Association designated by the Board of Directors shall have the authority to summarily order a non-compliant or disruptive person to leave the Beach for the day and, additionally, decide whether or not they may return the next day. If the Waterfront Manager, Front Gate/Deck Administrator or designated representative feels that a stronger disciplinary action is warranted, a formal complaint may be brought to the Conduct Review Board (see SWCA Code of Conduct on the website).

26. Failure on the part of SWCA Members, their households, guests or renters to abide by the beach rules or cooperate with beach staff or designated representatives may result, as per the Code of Conduct, in the suspension or revocation of Beach privileges. Continued rule breaking or lack of cooperation with Beach staff/designated representatives will put a Membership in jeopardy.

27. Swimming or using any type of recreational flotation device, including but not limited to inflatable rafts, plastic floats or rings and tire inner tubes, beyond the confines of the designated areas (i.e., beyond the ropes), as it is without lifeguard supervision and protection, has risks inherent in the act; doing so is at one’s own risk and peril.

28. When the beach area is closed no one may come ashore or breach the fence to use the beach area or its facilities.