Those who want to use the Big Deep and Little Deep swimming holes next summer will have to get a permit, after an action approved by the Woodstock Town Board at its latest meeting, December 12.
Town maintenance crews spent a considerable amount on time picking up garbage this past summer and officials received numerous complaints from neighbors. A sign will direct people to obtain a permit from the police dispatch office at 76 Tinker Street.
Those signing a permit will have to read and understand the rules, which are as follows:
No groups of more than six people (immediate family members excluded), no fires or cooking, no loud music, no dogs off leash, no glass containers, carry in and carry out, swim at your own risk (there is no lifeguard on duty), no camping, no firearms or other weapons and no hunting. The hours of access will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The rules state there will be no access without a permit from May 15 through September 15.
Woodstock supervisor Bill McKenna said he doesn’t expect police to be constantly patrolling and asking for permits, but it will help address any problems. “It gives them a tool for when they do get a call from one of the residents that there’s mischief afoot,” McKenna said. “We just want everybody to be safe, have a good time, take it in and take it out.”
The supervisor said he understands people like to walk their dogs in the early morning before the hours on the permit and those people generally aren’t causing a problem.
The permit will be free of charge for residents and though the board hasn’t set a fee yet, it will likely be $10 per season for nonresidents.
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