By The Journal Times Editorial Board | Posted: Saturday, June 6, 2009 12:00 am
Racine needs to embrace its big, blue tourist magnet. The more options it can offer on Lake Michigan, the more popular the city will become as a destination.
A local businessman aims to open a Jet Ski rental shop along the lakefront. Brett Kaydo's idea could give some extra throttle to Downtown's positive momentum.
City officials are negotiating a contract with him to operate from boat slips at Pugh Marina and a tent at the south end of North Beach. In exchange, the city would receive a portion of the rental fees.
Naturally, some homeowners up the hill from the beach have expressed reservations about the noise the machines make, while law enforcement officials are wary of them for safety reasons. A good compromise might be to cordon off the launch area at the beach, to prevent any injuries to swimmers who stray beyond the section monitored by lifeguards.
Those are details that can be ironed out, not deal-breakers. City leaders should focus on the potential for good in the rental proposal.
On weekends especially, the lake is already a common destination for personal watercraft. The area inside the breakwater at Samuel Myers Park is a popular cruising spot. Riders have also been enlisted to carry lifeguards on their crafts during the Spirit of Racine Triathlon.
Like any other activity, riding a Jet Ski demands a level of personal responsibility. If customers follow the rules and keep their life jackets on, they can minimize the chances of danger. Industry groups also claim the newer models are as much as 70 percent quieter than the brutes of the late 1990s.
In recent years, North Beach has become something of a regional hot spot. New musical events, stores and restaurants continue to lure out-of-towners to Downtown and locals back to it. The Jet Ski rental business offers one more possibility, to lure those who enjoy skimming across the lake besides admiring it from afar.