1:17 am | Jun 09, 2009
Beach Buggy debuts this summer
Starting in July, the city of Seal Beach will offer a pilot Beach Buggy program that will shuttle children in College Park East and College Park West to the beach and local parks this summer.
Children ages 8 through 17 are eligible to use the free bus service, but families must first obtain bus passes from the city’s Recreation and Community Services Department at City Hall.
The Beach Buggy is scheduled with three weekday runs — at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. — and seven stops around town — at Seal Beach Boulevard and Plymouth Drive; Heather Park; Bluebell Park; Edison Park; McGaugh School, Marina Park; and the Seal Beach Pier.
The Seal Beach City Council gave final approval to the Beach Buggy Monday night as a way to provide recreation activities for children who do not live close to the beach.
“We in College Park West don’t see a lot of services and it would really benefit a lot of children in the area,” said Mayor Pro Tem David Sloan.
The pilot program will cost about $20,000 a month and use a bus provided by the Los Alamitos Unified School District, according to a report by Community Services Supervisor Tim Kelsey.
The Beach Buggy had been scheduled to start June 22, but council members decided to postpone the launch until July 6 so that the city’s Recreation Department will have more time to get the word out to local families. The bus service will run through August.
On Monday night, Mayor Gordon Shanks suggested adding an additional stop on the bus route – at McGaugh School – to allow children from the naval base and the Hill to participate. Council members unanimously approved the Beach Buggy with the additional stop and also agreed that a parent could accompany a child on the bus, but also would need a bus pass to ride.
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