By MARK TODD - Staff Writer - mtodd@starbeacon.com
CONNEAUT — A little bit of regionalism will provide Conneaut Township Park visitors a cleaner beach in time for the summer swim season.
A beach-cleaning machine owned by the city of Ashtabula has been scrubbing sand at the Conneaut park since Wednesday and will continue its work today and possibly Saturday, said David Dickson, park superintendent.
The hefty machine, officially known as a Barber Surf Rake, lifts rocks and debris from the beach, leaving behind only sifted sand. It’s the first time Conneaut’s beach has received such a thorough face-lift, Dickson said.
“It’s the first time we’ve used it,” he said.
Ashtabula officials agreed to loan its machine to the park as a thank-you for Conneaut’s Public Works Department having provided a tractor large enough to pull the device at Walnut Beach.
That same municipal teamwork — Conneaut’s tractor and Ashtabula’s Surf Rake — is now grooming the Township Park beach.
“We’re very grateful,” Dickson said. “It’s a good example of city working with city.”
“Fingers” attached to belts in the machine, scoop up debris and dump it in a hopper for disposal later. Rocks collected will be deposited in low spots along Kelsey’s Run, where it empties into Lake Erie, said Bob Howland, Public Works Department director.
Ashtabula obtained the $60,000 Surf Rake in 2007 as a gift from the Ashtabula River Cooperation Group. The machine already has made a big difference.
“It looks really good,” Howland said. “I’m glad to see it come together.”
