Sign by the entrance to the parking lot at Will Rogers State Beach.
A simple lack of communication saw traffic on Pacific Coast Highway and Temescal back up at the entrance to Will Rogers State Beach parking lot this morning, and parents fuming.
When parents tried to drop off their youth for the Junior Lifeguard program at Will Rogers State Beach, they were told they had to pay for parking.
Many parents, who have been in the program, know that dropping kids off for the camp doesn’t require a parking fee. Usually, those parents receive a permit that states they are allowed to drop off and pick up during the camp’s duration.
Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell the parking attendants about the JG program that started this morning, June 17, and that parents had not yet received the permit.
To make matters worse, parents had to pay and only received the permit after they had driven to the far end of Will Rogers Parking lot, near Tower 15, where the camp is held.
CTN spoke to Nelson at LAZ Parking, who said attendants were simply doing their job. They are not allowed to let anyone in who has not paid or who does not have a permit.
“We have a procedure to follow that the county has given us,” Nelson said, and explained that attendants have to be strict because they often hear from people who do not want to pay and who use all sorts of excuses.
Some of the JG parents just drove through and their license plate numbers were taken by the parking company. Nelson said the plate numbers are for parking company’s records. “We just have it on file – nothing else,” he said.
He was asked about refunding the money. Nelson said that would have to come through Beaches and Harbors. People can send a copy of their payment, a copy of their Junior Lifeguard parking permit, and a request for a refund to L.A. County Department of Beaches and Harbor, 13837 Fiji Way, Marina del Ray, Ca. 90292.
Public Information Officer Captain Ocean Lifeguards Marco Rodriquez said the guard program takes full responsibility for the logistical error of not having permits at the parking kiosk. “We’ll take the blame for it,” he said. “We’ll make every effort to see it doesn’t happen again.”
CTN was told the problem was rectified by the afternoon session because a cadet was sent to the parking booth with passes for those parents.
For those who have never had children in the program, it is open for ages 9 through 17. The JG mission is to educate youth in ocean and beach safety, while working on physical conditioning, basic first aid and environmental awareness. And possibly, get kids interested in becoming lifeguards. There is a minimal cost for the four-week program, which includes a T-shirt and swimming suit. One has to qualify to enter the program by taking a swimming test click here.
Kids get in top physical shape at the L.A. County Junior Lifeguard program.